Revelation 2: 18-29  To the church of Thyatira Jesus identifies Himself as the "Son of God who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze.."   We might sometimes read of someone whose eyes are bright or shining.. with joy or with laughter; or we might see the shimmering of tears in eyes of those who are suffering.  But, Jesus' eyes are like fire.. which makes me think of anger.. or zeal.  His message to the church focuses on the one thing that is causing them to be impure.. "the woman Jezebel". 

Whoever this woman was, she was claiming to be a prophetess, but leading some of the people to stray away from the truth. She led them into immorality and idolatry.  And... she was being tolerated by the church.  Discipline had been applied.. but she did not repent. Therefore, Jesus was going to bring judgement upon her.. "Behold I will cast her upon a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation unless they repent of her deeds. And I will kill her children with pestilence; and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds." 

Some of the church had held on to righteousness.. they practiced love and faith and service.. they rejected the false teaching.  Jesus encouraged them to  "hold fast until I come." 

The reward to those who hold on and overcome is a place of authority over nations.. and the gift of "the morning star".  The details of how those things will happen are mysterious to me...

So far these letters have addressed the most important needs of the church... love.. life.. truth.. and purity.  The church today needs to heed these messages just as much as the churches in John's day. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." 

Father in heaven, we are thankful for Your Word, for Your great love, for Your Spirit who leads us into truth and holiness.  Keep us in Your Hand.. that we might "hold fast" until Christ returns.  Give us eyes to see and hearts to receive Your Truth.. Grand us wisdom to know Your will and to walk in obedient and faithful love.  In Jesus' name we ask this. Amen. 

 Revelation 2: 12-17   To the church of Pergamum Jesus identifies Himself as "The One who has the sharp two-edged sword.. "  In John's vision in chapter 1:16  Jesus is said to have a "sharp two-edged sword" which came out of His mouth.  Later in Revelation 19:15 Jesus comes on a white horse out of heaven "and from His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may smite the nations; and He will rule them with a rod or iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty."  

The sword is an instrument of judgement.. which comes from the mouth of our Lord.  Hebrews 4: 12 says, "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." 

In Ephesians 6:17 we are told to take up the "sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."  Isaiah 49:2 talks about the Servant of God.. "and He has made My mouth like a sharp sword".. 

All of these references bring us to a understanding of Jesus.. the Living Word.. the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us.  He came to speak truth.. to speak the Word of God.. the Word that judges nations and judges the thoughts of each heart.  Here, speaking to the Church, Jesus is passionate for them to hold on to the Truth.. even though they "dwell.. where Satan's throne is.." 

The church in Pergamum was sliding away from the whole truth.. they had allowed the "teaching of Balaam" to invade their church.  It was a teaching that would "put a stumbling block" before them.  They had allowed the teaching of the Nicolatians.. another stumbling block. These false teachers were leading the church away from purity and faithfulness.  It was promoting.. or at least allowing idol worship and immortality. 

Jesus calls His people to repentance.. quickly!  The consequence of false doctrines is judgement.. the "sword" of His mouth would "make war against them." 

But, to those who overcome.. there would be a mysterious and wonderful gift.. "hidden manna" and "a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it." 

We live in an age where the church has allowed in false doctrines.. many call themselves "christian" but are not staying faithful to the Truth of God's Word.  This will not stand, for the sword will come against them. We must be diligent against compromising the Truth of God's Word with the cultural mores of this world. 

Father in heaven, let the power of the Living Word fill us with Your Truth and give us wisdom to discern the lies of the enemy.  We know that many churches have allowed false teaching that condones immorality and idolatry.. Father bring repentance and restoration to Your people.  We take up the sword of Your Spirit, the Word of God and prayer. We take up the shield of faith and the belt of Truth. We put on the breastplate of righteousness and the shoes of peace. We ask that You help us to overcome. We look forward to the day when we will receive a white stone and a new name.. in the presence of our Lord Jesus.  Amen. 

 Revelation 2:8-11 To the church at Smyrna  Jesus identifies Himself as the One who is "the first and the last, who was dead and has come to life.."  He experienced death and life.. and this church needed the reassurance that they would do the same.. and because He was the "first".. He would be there with them.. and because He is the "last".. they were safely in His Hands.  

The church was experiencing much  "tribulation".  They were suffering.  They felt their "poverty".. deeply.  Yet Jesus called them "rich"!  They had something so much greater than what the world could give them.  They needed to know the extent of the riches of Christ.. the riches of His kindness and forbearance.. His patience and His glory.. His wisdom and His knowledge.  The riches of Christ were theirs to attain.. so that even when they were tested, they would overcome.  "Be faithful until death and I will give you the crown of life." Jesus tells them.  

We have not experienced this kind of tribulation or suffering.. yet.  It may come to America some day.. and we need to be ready for that. But, we know that there are many of our brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering today... sent into prisons, beaten, or even killed.. sometimes by their own families, just for trusting in Jesus. How we need to pray for the persecuted church around the world!  

Father we ask that Your children would be reminded today that Your love reaches to the heavens and Your faithfulness to the skies!  When they feel forgotten and oppressed, remind them of the riches of Jesus that are theirs forever, preserved for them in heaven where they cannot rust or mold or be stolen away.  You are faithful, Lord, and You will do all that they need so that they will overcome and receive the crown of life. May our hearts be filled with Your love for those we do not know and cannot be with... hear our prayers for them, Lord God, and move with power to bring them into Your riches of Grace.  In Jesus' name we ask this, Amen. 

 Revelation 2 The message to the churches that were given to John came from Jesus.. "the Alpha and Omega.. who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."  He has a message for the specific churches mentioned in this revelation.. but also for the Church today. 

In each letter, the Lord identifies a particular truth about Himself..  a characteristic that will enable the church to persevere to the end.. 

The first letter is to the church of Ephesus.  Jesus identifies Himself as "The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden candlesticks."  The stars are the "angels of the seven churches".. the leaders.. pastors.. the messengers of the Lord.  The candlesticks represent the churches. ( 1:20)   Jesus is telling them that He is right there with them.. walking among them... "I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance.. "  

The church of Ephesus was enduring.. but they had lost the "love" that they had from the beginning.. when they first came to Christ.  Jesus calls them to "repent" of this lost love. 

How do you repent of not loving God or others enough?  Jesus says to "do the things you did at first".  Go back to showing brotherly love, charity, good will, affection.. benevolence.  Jesus said that the church had not "grown weary" of the constant need to persevere in the presence of the wickedness around them.. but perhaps all their energy was spent on the battle and they lost sight of who they were... children of the Almighty God who was right there with them.. who had prepared a place for them in the "Paradise of God". 

Perhaps we are guilty of the same thing.. spending all our energy on "keeping the faith"  and neglecting the One who keeps us.. Who gives us His love to overflow into the lives of others. 

Father in heaven, fill us with the unending power of Your great love. Forgive us for not loving others as You have loved us. Help us to move deeper into Your love as we direct our hearts into Your Word and into the grace of our Lord Jesus. Thank You. amen. 

 Jude.. this letter is addressed to "those who are called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ."  What a wonderful word of encouragement for those believers.. and for us.  We have been called.. invited to the table.. in the Kingdom of our God.. we are loved by our God who revealed Himself as our Heavenly Father, adopting us in to His family.. and we are "kept".. preserved - guarded, cared for.. held fast for Jesus.. "waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life" ( v21b)

Jude's letter warns about those who deceive.. those who have "crept in" to the church while living ungodly and disgraceful lives.  "Contend earnestly for the faith"..  is the rallying cry from this man who grew up with Jesus.. but who did not come to faith until he saw Him resurrected and glorified.  Jude learned first hand that Jesus Christ alone can save and can preserve a soul from the lies of satan, from sin, and from eternal death. 

Jude gives these examples as a warning... 

The Israelites who had been saved out of Egypt.. but destroyed in the wilderness for their unbelief.

The angels in heaven.. who "abandoned their proper abode".. and are in "eternal bonds"

"Sodom and Gomorrah" who "indulged in gross immorality" and were condemned forever. 

And those who were living within the church but living wicked lives.. "these men revile the things which they do not understand.. " 

All of these.. are under condemnation..  judgement came to them and will come to any who follow in their footsteps.  The ungodly will be convicted for their ungodliness.  The grumblers, the arrogant.. those who follow after their own lusts.. will be condemned.. 

So.. "keep yourselves in the love of God.. have mercy on the doubting.. save others, snatching them out of the fire.. " (v21-23) We do not ignore them , but building up ourselves in faith.. praying in the Holy Spirit, and keeping ourselves in the love of God.. we have mercy.. "with fear" lest we become polluted with the unholiness of those we try to minister to..

"Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior through Jesus Christ our  Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority before all time and now and forever. amen." 

Father in heaven.. keep us in Your Almighty Hand.. Amen!

 III John  This is a short and personal letter from John to his friend, Gaius, The focus, as in the other two letters that John wrote, is on walking in truth.  "For I was very glad when brethren came and bore witness to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth." (v3)

What joy it brings to us when those we love are following Christ.. "walking in the truth".  We rejoice to witness or to hear others witness of our loved one's faithfulness and love for Christ and for others.  John was so happy to hear that his dear friends were blessing others who had come to preach and teach the Word. 

But, John also has a word for the one who refused his letters.. Diotrephes.  This one was not walking in truth but acting wickedly.  He refused to accept John the apostle!  He forbid others to "receive the brethren".  He put people out of the church for providing hospitality to visiting pastors.

 "Beloved do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God." (v11) 

We need discernment regarding the people we meet.. knowing that some who claim to be Christians.. aren't really walking in the truth.  John also talks about Demetrius.. a man who "has received a good testimony from everyone and from the truth itself.. " (v12)  Do we have a "good testimony"?  When others view our lives.. can they tell we are walking in the truth?  I pray so... 

Father, may the light of Your Truth.. the Light of Christ.. fill our hearts and lives so that He is seen in all we do and all we say. Help us to walk in Your truth.. always, by the power of Your Spirit. Amen. 

 II John  Verse 3 "Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, will be with us in truth and love." 

Truth and love.  We must have both.. through Jesus Christ the "Father's Son."  

John warns us to not stray from either of these central characteristics of our God..  We are to love in truth.. we are to walk in truth.. we are to walk in love. 

The truth is that Jesus Christ came "in the flesh".  He was the Word who became flesh. He is the Son... the Beloved of the Father.  He is the "way.. the truth.. and the life.."   Jesus Christ.. our Lord and Savior.. the King of kings, the Lord of lords.  Let us never be deceived that He is less than what He is.. the Only Begotten of the Father.." He is the radiance of His glory, and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high;" ( Hebrews 1:3)

By God's grace.. through His mercy on us.. we have a peace that is found no where else.. but in Christ, the Truth.  "Watch out".. John warns his readers.  There are deceivers.  Stay fixed on the foundation that Christ has given us.. for He is the Rock who will never fail us. 

And the truth is.. He has loved us with an everlasting love that will never fail.. and He has given us a command to love one another.  Let us "walk in obedience to His commands." 

Father , enable us to love more. Help us to stay firmly rooted and grounded on the Truth.. on Jesus Christ, Your Beloved Son.  We ask this in His beautiful name.. Amen.