R sbc
December 16th , 2007
Sunday morning
Series: Christ The Sum & Substance of The Bible”
The Book of Revelation
Subject: WHAT CHRIST SAYS TO THE CHURCHES IN REVELATION
Sermon # 1
Sermon # 139 In the Series
Intro: Last Sunday I showed who the seven golden candlestick is, and who the stars where , that was in his hand, the pastors of the seven churches. Today we shall endeavor to look at what Christ spoke to these churches. Then we shall apply that to us today time permitting as we look at each church.
There are a number of things that stands out in this church that I want to speak too. What concerned Christ most of all in this church seems to be to me, their light was going out. We all know when the light goes out the darkness prevails. We all know that our LORD spoke frequently while on earth of letting our light shine.
John said 1Jo 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. So if Christ is where he wants to be in the churches there will be light and darkness will be driven out.
I.. THE CHRIST WHO CONTROLS: VS 1
This is no new doctrine to this church, neither is it new to RSBC. In the book of Heb 1- 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
There is no question as to the ability of Christ to hold all things, when the Bible clearly states he made all things... and here he is said to hold the pastors and the churches in his right hand. So 8:3 His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me.
Never think for one moment that he is not in control of this church and all his churches wherever they are. Never think for one moment he doesn’t hold his pastors in his right hand to guide and instruct them in the management of his church.
There is something real clear to me from this verse:
(1.) If the pastor is in his right hand...
(2.) If he walks in the midst of the church:
(3.) Then he blesses the church:
II.. THE CHRIST WHO COMMUNICATES: VS 2-7
The whole of the N.T. is the communication of the Lord to his churches. He did this by establishing his church, calling the Apostles, setting in her pastors, teaches, saving whom he wills. Adding them to his church through Baptism.
Here it is no different just because he is not visibly with them. He is with us as he was with them to communicate to each of us his will.
(1.) He communicates commendation to them: vs 2-3
Churches who are made up of the LORD’S people who have been baptized, needs to be commended: The word commend can mean as Jesus used it to release his Spirit and it can mean depending on how the sentence is, to commend someone who is worthy of commendation.
All this was done by them for the name of Christ. This is what I preach. This is what I live by. This is what I want the LORD to say about RSBC. I want him pleased with what we are doing with our responsibility and with his work.
(2.) He communicates caution to them: vs 4
Sometimes when the LORD is blessing, when the church is doing all that it can do, something happens that should not happen. The light and focus begins to go out, to leave, to have something replace it.
a. A relationship gone cold:
b. A relationship unattended to:
c. A relationship forgotten:
2Pe 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
It is so easy to get caught up in how much we have, what we do, how many are coming or not coming to church, our personal problems till we forget what Christ has done for us and we forget him as our first love.
Clark says and I quote: They did not retain that strong and ardent affection for God and sacred things which they had when first brought to the knowledge of the truth, and justified by faith in Christ.
JFB says: This epistle was written under Domitian, when thirty years had elapsed since Paul had written his Epistle to them. Their warmth of love had given place to a lifeless orthodoxy. Compare Paul’s view of faith so called without love,
(3.) He communicates his instructions to them: vs 5-6
He gives a number of instruction to his church at Ephesus:
a. Remember: vs 6
b. Repent: vs 6
c. Removal will occur: vs 5
d. Realize what he says: vs 7
IV. HE COMMUNICATES A PROMISE TO THEM: VS 7
Christ made many promises in his ministry through his word, we are all included in those wether it is addressed our church or not. Likewise what he says here is to us. We should be thankful for such a Christ that would leave us with such promises and such instructions.
Note with me a number of things:
(1.) He that hath an ear:
This is not what we see, it is what we don’t see. It is that spiritual ear. Ex 15:26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.
The church has a spiritual ear, and we must be ready to hear, ready to listen to what the LORD is saying to us. Pr 20:12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
(2.) He that overcometh:
Look at the promise he makes. We shall be able to eat of the tree of life. I have often ponder in my heart what is the tree of life? The first time we find this expression in the bible is in the garden of Eden.
A. The tree of life is the source of eternal life:
Ge 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
b. The tree of life is representive of Christ:
Nothing or know one can give life but the LORD, so it would stand to reason that he is the tree. I take this from a number of reasons.
Isa 11:10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
Isa 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
Re 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed
Re 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
All of these remind us that Christ is the tree of life, he is the only source of life. He is the one that is in the midst of the paradise of God, which is heaven. We take of him, in order that we might live forever.
Re 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Re 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Come to this tree today, and we as a church must do as the master tells us to do.