Study of the Seven Churches Part One: Rev. 1:12-16

**This is the start of a study of the Seven Church's in the Book of Revelation. This study will be continuing until each of the seven churches has been explained.

 

 

Rev. 1:12-16

A study of the Seven Church’s in Revelation is important now more than ever. Each of the Seven Church’s represent a state in which our Church’s today have fell victim to. It is imperative that we listen carefully to the words of Christ as He speaks to them in the Book of Revelation. A resounding phrase to each of the Seven Church’s is, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

There is need to first explain what a revelation is and the purpose of it. A revelation is a vision (in this case) of a warning or a vision of events to come. This vision that John of Patmos receives from the Lord is a warning to future events as it will happen. The Book of Revelation is a telling of the End Times and the events that will occur. This is why it is important to read what Christ say’s to the Seven Church’s because in the End Times this will be the state of our Church’s and it is our duty as Christians to listen to the Word of God and repent these areas.

In Revelation 1:12 John witnesses Christ for the first time in this revelation. There was a voice that spoke to him and he turns around to see who was talking. When he turns to see Him He is in the midst of seven golden lampstands. He gives a very good description of Christ as having “hair like white wool, white as snow”, “eyes like a flame of fire”, “his feet were like brass”, and “a voice that sounded like many water.”

John goes on to describe some other features such as “in his right hand was He had seven stars”, “out of His mouth went a sharp two edged sword”, and “His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.” All of the features described about Christ are very telling of Who Christ is.

The hair like white wool is a reflection of the “Ancient of Days” as Daniel wrote in Dan. 7:9. It also tells of Christ’s purity and wisdom. Eyes like flames of fire describes Christ’s righteousness and His judgments. His feet as brass describes that everything will be treat under His feet as described in 1 Corinthians 15:25. The seven stars that are in His right hand are the Church’s in which will receive judgment. The two edged sword reveals the judging power that Christ has because He will judge with the Word of God; not with man’s wisdom. His countenance shining like the sun in its strength displays that Christ has ever bounding strength; no other strength can outshine.

Important Don'ts For Christians on Social Media

 In recent years technology has seen some major advances. I can remember there was a time when Christians were dead set against the internet and especially social media. However, Christians are increasingly getting more active with social media to make their voices heard. As someone who has pursued a Bachelor in Information Technology, a Christian, and a minister I fully believe that technology can be used for good and the furtherance of the Kingdom. But, there are some "Don'ts" that Christians should be aware of when using social media.
Note: this is not law and bondage for Christians or another rule as Christianity is Freedom!

1. Christians should be very careful when posting to social media not to use harsh language or foul language. It is really a disheartening thing for other Christians to see someone who they go to church with posting on their feeds with every other word being a curse word. This also goes for anyone who claims to be a Christian they are Christian. Some people will post Praise the Lord on Sunday, but then on Monday are cursing everything in their life.
 There are a lot of people on social media that aren't Christians and when they see Christians cursing that's just one more reason for non-Christians to call the whole Christian community hypocrites.
REMEMBER: Colossians 3:8 "But, now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth."

2. Christians are often posting and liking pornographic material on their feeds. This is a another big don't for Christians. Whatever is liked on FB shows up in your news feed and often times will show up as that was liked by you. Again, this is seen by the world and is very off putting to see on Christians social media. On the other hand Christians shouldn't be posting off color pics of themselves on their social media sites. This doesn't really show your true heart as a Christian. Now, that doesn't mean that if you and your friends and family are the beach in bathing suits having a good time that you can't post pics of that.

3. Christians should also abstain from posting about drinking and partying. First of all, Christians shouldn't be doing that in the first place, but it most certainly should not be talked about on social media. Other Christians shouldn't see that on your feeds and when non-Christians see this they are not getting a clear picture of what Christ does for you in your life.
REMEMBER: Luke 21:34 "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly."

4. This a big one and has saved this one for the last of the Don'ts. Don't argue with non-Christians about your faith and especially to the point of being belligerent. I will have many people talk to me through social media about the Christian faith and have many times spoke their opinions about Christianity. It is very important that we don't lose our cool about this. We do feel strong about our faith, but if we feel this way we should want others to come to Christ as well. Often times, when we argue with people about our faith it drives people further away from ever becoming a Christian. It is perfectly fine to discuss your faith with others, but when you feel like the conversation will become heated just know that is when it's time to calmly say "it was nice talking to you about this and hope that we can discuss it further some other time."
REMEMBER: Ecclesiastes 6:3 "Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools."

Some Do's: There are some Do's for Christians that they should be doing.
1. Christians should be BOLD in the Lord and proclaim God's goodness, faithfulness, Love, etc. God has done so many good things for us that we should be proclaiming from the rooftops (or from our social media which will reach further than standing on the rooftop shouting.. LOL).
2. Christians should proclaim the truth on their social media. This could be about yourself, anyone else (unless it's a very personal matter: remember the world see's this), or issues that are going. People will respect your point of views as long as you respect theirs.
3. Be humble on your social media sites. Example: if your on Twitter don't be too prideful to talk to others or following them back. Being prideful will not get you far especially on twitter and on other social media sites. Besides, as Christians we want others to know the Greatness of God and social media is a great way of doing it.
4. Finally, just have fun. Social media is a great way to reach out to others and talk to others that are like minded.

 This is a short list and could be a lot longer than this, but as long as I've been on social media these are some of the key areas. As Christians we aren't perfect, but we should conduct ourselves as a child of the Risen King!

Today: What Would You Do?

 If you were told today that you only had 24hrs to live how would you spend it? Some would say that they would spend it fulfilling desires that they never had a chance to indulge in. Some would say that they would spend their last moments with their families. And then there would be some to say that they would spend it just relaxing.
The Bible says in Hebrews 3:7 "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."
 This passage is referring to the wilderness wanderers whom God saved from bondage. God sent Moses to Pharaoh to release His people from slavery. We all know the story of how determined God was to save His people; He sent 10 plagues to convince Pharaoh. After God's people were released they started their journey to the Promised Land.
 But, the odd thing is that the very people that God saved from bondage and leading to the Promised Land were starting to grumble. They were hardening their hearts to God due to their present circumstances. God gave them chance after chance to repent, but they wouldn't. Eventually, the children of Israel would spend 40 years wandering in the desert. It is also believed that they spent those years wandering in circle.
 Can you imagine having such a hardened heart towards God? It happens today! People hardened their hearts towards God due to their circumstances such as finances, divorce, a death in the family, or simply just not having enough stuff. In those circumstances rather than turning to the God that has saved them from their bondage they run right back to slavery to drugs, alcohol, and all other sin that would hold them captive. That is exactly what the Children of Israel kept saying too, "if we were still in Egypt." They only looked at their present circumstance and didn't remember that they lived in squalor, ate scraps, were beaten, and did hard labor.
 So, the question is, "Today, if you will hear his voice," what would you do? The truth is you may go on living for years or Christ may come back in the morning. Christ reminds us of this in Matt. 24:36 " But of that day and hour no one knows not even the angels of Heaven."
 I am not trying to scare you, only helping you to be prepared. There are many who reach their final destination in life without being prepared. Many good people, people who lived outstanding lives and thought they were good. And the sad truth is, they never listened to that voice asking them to repent and turn away from their sinful lives.
 God's voice speaks to us in many ways. It could be through a friend who visits just to tell you they love you. It could be at that moment after years of not reading the Bible we decide to just open it up just read some verses. It could be through this blog that the Holy Spirit is saying, "Today, if you will hear His voice do not harden your heart."
 His desire is that all would be saved. So, whether you have just today or many years to come, will you soften your heart and allow God in. He is offering Love, life abundantly, and an Eternal Promised Land.

**Dear God, let us not let one more day go by without listening to Your voice. We know that circumstances can be rough, but without You times are much rougher. Soften our hearts and enter today and from this moment on.
 
 

Not Feeling Good Enough?

And He said 'Follow Me.' So he left all, rose up, and followed Him. Luke 5:27-28

 Many say that they don't feel worthy to be a Christian. When Jesus started out in His ministry he gathered around Him some bad characters in His time. While preaching by the Lake of Gennesaret He called fisherman to follow Him in His ministry. He also called tax collectors such as Matthew to follow Him and Matthew "rose up and followed Him."
 In Ancient Times fishermen and tax collectors weren't viewed as upstanding characters in the community. Tax Collectors were viewed as they are today and people just tried to avoid them at all cost and fishermen were very rugged men. Regardless, Jesus still called these men to follow Him and called them beloved.
 Jesus was also known to be associated with other tax collectors and characters of low standing in the publics view such as prostitutes and thieves. If we know that Jesus talked and associated with these people we should feel that no matter what we have had in our lives or past He would certainly be glad to associate with us. Jesus isn't concerned with our past, He is more concerned with a relationship with us in your future.


** Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for forgiving me and accepting me just the way that I am. Lord, it is my prayer that I will please You more and more in my life.

Casting Out Demons

Luke 4:35 "But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet and come out of him!"

 Jesus journeyed to another city to preach the Gospel. When He arrived he found a synagogue to preach at. When He began to preach the people there were astonished at His teaching because it had authority. While teaching there was a man there filled with a demon who just didn't want to be released, but Jesus had other plans.
 Jesus doesn't want His people to be tortured and bound. When people are filled with some sort of demon they are held in bondage. Our human nature makes us think that when people are filled with a demon those people are deformed and look unnatural. But, the truth is demons can fill us to torture us ways such as with an addiction or any sin. People with demons can blend in to look like everyone else in the crowd.
 It doesn't have to be that way though. We have the Power of the Holy Spirit to be cleansed from any sin or demon that tortures us. We just need to pray to that it would be taken away. When we ask for cleansing Jesus just says, "Be quiet and come out!" Our human nature may want to go back to that sin because of temptation, but remember that you were cleansed in the name of Jesus Christ. He has called us into the family of God to be free!


Prayer: Lord, it is our prayer that You would help us to overcome the things in our lives that slow us down in doing Your will. Fill us with the Holy Spirit and keep us from temptation.