psalmonesermons

[psalmonesermons]

[psalmonesermons]

The 7 churches of Revelation 5. Sardis

What can we learn from them

To the Church in Sardis- the almost dead church

Sardis was considered to be an impregnable city built on an inaccessible hill situated at the top of the Hermus valley and was the capital city of the area known as Lydia. Such physical security had perhaps caused the citizens to become over-confident or even arrogant. The city was beginning to decline at the time that this book was written.

3:1 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

The church in Sardis was no longer living up to its reputation. Nearly the whole assembly in Sardis had some form of defilement in their lives. They had fallen asleep on duty as it were and were only give out a flickering light of the gospel. Jesus tells them to wake up and strengthen what is left of their faith. They had not finished the job as far as God was concerned. They desperately needed to rekindle their love and faith. Jesus warns them they need to repent from their sins. He further warns them that if they don’t listen to His wake-up call that He will visit them suddenly without any notice and with judgement implied.

4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5 Those who are victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out their names from the book of life but will acknowledge their names before my Father and his angels. 6 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

However not everyone in the Sardis Assembly had gone astray or defiled themselves. The repentant and victorious believers along with those who have been already faithful in the church of Sardis are promised a special walk with Jesus Christ sharing in His glory and purity. Jesus gives all such believers His personal assurance that their names are permanently inscribed in the book of life and that Jesus will personally acknowledge them as friends in the presence of the Father God and His holy angels. Therefore let those believers who are willing and able be ever obedient to the Holy Spirit as He speaks to the church.

Further commentary (adapted in part from Pilgrim Benham: A letter to a modern church -Calvary Chapel)

Commendation

Jesus gives no commendation to the church at Sardis since Jesus cannot commend dead works. The faithful minority are however promised a special walk with Jesus.

Corrections (do these apply to your church?)

1. Wake up (stay awake) unlike those Sardians who woke up to find the enemy had climbed the steep castle wall and conquered the city. This was probably due to over-confidence in their defences. To wake up is to admit your faith is asleep and not moving forward. Sardis was the church who had a problem staying awake! Wake up before you are attacked unaware.

2. Strengthen what remains most likely faith, hope and love. These three are strengthened by regular use. If we grow complacent, we forget our dependence on God. Having awakened we must fan the tiny spark or flame of our faith into life. Shake off the spiritual numbness and ask Jesus to grow your mustard seed of faith.

3. Remember what we have been taught. Both waking up and strengthening involves remembering. Do you recall the Gospel of your salvation? The Holy Spirit is our helper and will bring all the relevant things we need to our minds!

4. Hold fast to what we know to be true. Our remembrance ought to be more than a mental exercise but rather something that leads to action that bears fruit. Keep and value the wonderful life that Christ has purchased for you.

5. Repent and do a U-turn as often as required (1 John 1:9). If there are walking dead in your church, then repentance is the only remedy. Do not persist in the things that are killing your faith. How can we fall asleep in the presence of King Jesus?

Further thoughts

Concerning the Church at Sardis no mention is made of any persecution from external enemies or false teaching from within. The root problem was that they had absorbed the surrounding godless culture.

Amen

#christianity #bible study #bibletruth #blog post #blessings #psalmonesermons #faith #victory #devotional #Sardis

[psalmonesermons]

The 7 churches of Revelation

What can we learn from them? 3. Pergamum

To the Church in Pergamum- The compromised church

The city of Pergamum was built in land on a rocky hill and was about 25 miles inland. The city was filled with statues and tributes to the serpent-god Aesculapius a clear sign of Satan. The rod of Aesculapius was adopted by many healers and magicians as a symbol and today appears on NHS ambulances in England and Wales. The city also had an alter to Zeus the king of the so-called gods of Greece. Pergamum was also the centre of emperor worship. Evidences of Satan and his activities were all over the place. Not an easy place to be a Christian! Sin city!

Revelation 2:12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:

These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.

Satan’s throne may refer to the 200 foot high alter to Zeus specifically or in all the Satanic symbolism throughout the city. Jesus commends the church in Pergamum a highly satanic city for their refusal to deny Him and clinging to their faith even when Antipas the first Asian martyr was put to death in Satan’s hometown as it were. History records that Antipas was burned to death in a large bull-shaped copper vat for daring to cast out demons which were worshipped by the local people. In Pergamum the rulers enforced the Roman policy of confessing ‘Caesar is Lord’. Each citizen was required to offer a pinch of incense to Caesar and make a public declaration that ‘Caesar is Lord’ after which they were given a certificate showing they had done this. Anyone refusing to do this was immediately put to death. Quite a test for the Christians living then who saw this as a clear case of needing to declare instead ‘Jesus is Lord’ thus forfeiting their lives.

14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam [1], who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. 15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Jesus now turns his attention to the various criticisms of the church in Pergamum. Some of the church members were mixing their Christianity with pagan practices including eating meat sacrificed to idols and actually taking part in immoralities of the pagan festivals. The teaching of Balaam and later the Nicolaitans encouraged God’s people to licentiousness by sexually intermingling with the pagan peoples during rituals thus mixing the true religion with an evil one. The church needed to discipline those people who were mixing their faith with outrageous pagan practices. They probably did this to keep their livelihoods. Christians would be thrown out of their various guilds and their employment if they did not participate in the worship of the local god of that particular guild. Jesus condemns these practices and calls the church to repentance warning them that He is coming soon to deal with such enemies.

17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To those who are victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give each of them a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.

Whoever is able and willing to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying and is obedient to it will receive true food –the bread of Heaven- and be satisfied with it. The white stone may represent the inner person of Christ as revealed personally to the recipient. The stone (psephos) is like a ‘not guilty’ voting chip from God and is a token of a wonderful and everlasting personalised fellowship with the believer and with Jesus’ new name reflecting on the believer in some way perhaps giving them a new name too. The bestowing of a new name on God’s servants was prophesied by Isaiah [2]

Further commentary from Jacqueline Wilson (the contribution of the late David Hilsley is acknowledged)

Pergamum was the Capital city of Asia until the close of the first century. It was a city given over to the worship of many Greek idols. Two of the most prominent religious systems of the city were the worship of Bacchus (the god of revelry) and the worship of Asclepius (the god of healing)

Verse 13 twice refers to the city as the place where “Satan’s throne is” or where Satan dwells.” Satan has a kingdom; Babylon has from earliest times been considered the capital of this kingdom. Idolatry gained its start in Babylon through Nimrod and his mother inspired by Satan. As long as Babylon was a dominant world power, it made an excellent headquarters for Satan’s attack on mankind. However, when Babylon’s glory began to decline and it was left desolate Satan looked for another location. He selected Pergamum because of its strong idolatrous religions.

The Indulged Church A.D. 312 - 606

Satan learned from his attack on the church of Smyrna that persecution only caused the Church to flourish and continue in a perpetual state of revival. After Diocletian’s unsuccessful attack on the Church, Constantine succeeded him as emperor of Rome. Constantine’s ascendancy to the throne was not without controversy, and it had far-reaching effects on the Christian Church of the fourth, fifth, and sixth centuries.

Constantine, already attracted by Christianity, allegedly saw a vision of a fiery cross in the sky and heard a voice saying, “In this sign conquer”.

Paganism introduced into the Church

The influence of paganism on the Church increased over the years step by step. The Church began to shroud itself in “mystery” and ritualism that had a strong resemblance to Babylonian mysticism. The following is a partial list of unscriptural changes introduced during this age. Gradually these changes became more prominent than the original teachings of Christianity.

A.D. 300 - Prayers for the dead

A.D. 300 - Making sign of the cross

A.D. 375 - Worship of saints and angels

A.D. 394 - Mass first instituted

A.D. 431 - Worship of Mary began

A.D. 500 - Priests began dressing differently than laymen

A.D. 526 - Extreme unction (a sacrament in which a priest anoints and prays for the recovery and salvation of a critically ill or injured person.)

A.D. 593 - Doctrine of purgatory introduced

A.D. 600 - Worship services conducted in Latin

A.D. 600 - Prayers directed to Mary

From A.D. 312 on, the Church became more Roman and less Christian on its practices. The Roman Catholic Church of today is hard put to trace its ancestry beyond A.D. 312.

The name Pergamum literally means “marriage” or “elevation”. As the Church became married to the governmental authority and elevated to a place of acceptance, it declined in spiritual blessing and power.

Postmillennialism Introduced

As the Church became rich and powerful, it was suggested that the world was getting better and better, that Jesus’ kingdom was already ushered in, and that he would come at the end of the thousand year reign. This demanded reinterpretation of the status of Israel, which was accomplished by suggesting that Israel had been “cast off forever” and the promises of Israel now applied to the Church.

Whenever a local Church or denomination has maintained a strong emphasis on the second coming of Jesus, it has been an evangelistic, missionary-sending station. Where this doctrine has been neglected, the church has become cold, indifferent, and worldly.

The Nature of Jesus Revealed to Pergamum

To Pergamum he revealed the “sharp two-edged sword” which without question

refers to the Word of God. The cure for the problems of the local Church at Pergamum, of the Pergamum age of the Church, or of any church is the Word of God

Jesus used the Word of God to sanctify His Church (John 17:17)

to clean it (John 15:3)

to bring it joy (John 15:11)

to bring it peace (John 16:3)

Had the church of Pergamum and the Pergamum age heeded the Word of God, the evils of the Dark Ages could well have been avoided.

Jesus’ Commendation to Pergamum

The commendation of Jesus to Pergamum, in verse 13 falls into three basic categories.

1. I know your works, and where you dwell, even where Satan’s throne is.

2. You hold fast to my name. Criticism cannot be hurled against the Doctrine this Church or church age, for they were doctrinally pure. But they sinned by taking in the ceremonies of paganism.

3. ..and hast not denied my faith. Much of this has already been covered.

Condemnation

The condemnation of Jesus given to the church of Pergamum reveals that although their theological doctrine was correct, their practical doctrines were radically evil. These false doctrines fell into two main categories.

Revelation 2:14

The Doctrine of Balaam

The Doctrine of the Nicolaitans

Counsel

Repent or be judged by the Word of God

Jesus’ Challenge to the Church of Pergamum

It is directed to overcomers - two beautiful symbols loaded with meaning

“hidden manna” and “a white stone”

Hidden manna (Expanded in Conversation)

The White Stone (Expanded in Conversation)

Amen

[1] Numbers chapters 22-25 and 31 see also 2 Peter 2:15 and Jude 11.

[2] See Isaiah 62:2 and 65:15

#christianity #bible study #bibletruth #blog post #blessings #psalmonesermons #faith #victory #devotional #Thyatira

[psalmonesermons]

The 7 churches of Revelation 4. Thyatira

What can we learn from them?

To the Church in Thyatira- the corrupt church

The city of Thyatira was situated in quite a vulnerable position being located in a valley adjacent to two other valleys and this with no obvious natural defences. A garrison was usually billeted there to defend Thyatira and the nearest towns such as Pergamum. Thyatira was a commercial centre with many different trade guilds.

Revelation 2:18 “To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:

These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19 I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.

Jesus knows and commends several virtues of the church in Thyatira including their actions, their love and faith, their faithful ministry under trial and difficulty. Further praise is also given that their ministry has increased since the church was founded.

20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. 24 Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you,25 except to hold on to what you have until I come.’

Christians employed by the various trade guilds would be required to worship the god of the trade guild e.g. woollen goods, leather goods or pottery. To maintain their employment in the particular trade the workers were also required to take part in the pagan and immoral practices associated with the worship of the gods of the trades i.e. eating meat

#christianity #bible study #bibletruth #blog post #blessings #psalmonesermons #faith #victory #devotional #Thyatira

[psalmonesermons]

The 7 churches of Revelation

What can we learn from them? 3. Pergamum

To the Church in Pergamum- The compromised church

The city of Pergamum was built in land on a rocky hill and was about 25 miles inland. The city was filled with statues and tributes to the serpent-god Aesculapius a clear sign of Satan. The rod of Aesculapius was adopted by many healers and magicians as a symbol and today appears on NHS ambulances in England and Wales. The city also had an alter to Zeus the king of the so-called gods of Greece. Pergamum was also the centre of emperor worship. Evidences of Satan and his activities were all over the place. Not an easy place to be a Christian! Sin city!

Revelation 2:12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:

These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.

Satan’s throne may refer to the 200 foot high alter to Zeus specifically or in all the Satanic symbolism throughout the city. Jesus commends the church in Pergamum a highly satanic city for their refusal to deny Him and clinging to their faith even when Antipas the first Asian martyr was put to death in Satan’s hometown as it were. History records that Antipas was burned to death in a large bull-shaped copper vat for daring to cast out demons which were worshipped by the local people. In Pergamum the rulers enforced the Roman policy of confessing ‘Caesar is Lord’. Each citizen was required to offer a pinch of incense to Caesar and make a public declaration that ‘Caesar is Lord’ after which they were given a certificate showing they had done this. Anyone refusing to do this was immediately put to death. Quite a test for the Christians living then who saw this as a clear case of needing to declare instead ‘Jesus is Lord’ thus forfeiting their lives.

14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam [1], who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. 15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Jesus now turns his attention to the various criticisms of the church in Pergamum. Some of the church members were mixing their Christianity with pagan practices including eating meat sacrificed to idols and actually taking part in immoralities of the pagan festivals. The teaching of Balaam and later the Nicolaitans encouraged God’s people to licentiousness by sexually intermingling with the pagan peoples during rituals thus mixing the true religion with an evil one. The church needed to discipline those people who were mixing their faith with outrageous pagan practices. They probably did this to keep their livelihoods. Christians would be thrown out of their various guilds and their employment if they did not participate in the worship of the local god of that particular guild. Jesus condemns these practices and calls the church to repentance warning them that He is coming soon to deal with such enemies.

17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To those who are victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give each of them a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.

Whoever is able and willing to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying and is obedient to it will receive true food –the bread of Heaven- and be satisfied with it. The white stone may represent the inner person of Christ as revealed personally to the recipient. The stone (psephos) is like a ‘not guilty’ voting chip from God and is a token of a wonderful and everlasting personalised fellowship with the believer and with Jesus’ new name reflecting on the believer in some way perhaps giving them a new name too. The bestowing of a new name on God’s servants was prophesied by Isaiah [2]

Further commentary from Jacqueline Wilson (the contribution of the late David Hilsley is acknowledged)

Pergamum was the Capital city of Asia until the close of the first century. It was a city given over to the worship of many Greek idols. Two of the most prominent religious systems of the city were the worship of Bacchus (the god of revelry) and the worship of Asclepius (the god of healing)

Verse 13 twice refers to the city as the place where “Satan’s throne is” or where Satan dwells.” Satan has a kingdom; Babylon has from earliest times been considered the capital of this kingdom. Idolatry gained its start in Babylon through Nimrod and his mother inspired by Satan. As long as Babylon was a dominant world power, it made an excellent headquarters for Satan’s attack on mankind. However, when Babylon’s glory began to decline and it was left desolate Satan looked for another location. He selected Pergamum because of its strong idolatrous religions.

The Indulged Church A.D. 312 - 606

Satan learned from his attack on the church of Smyrna that persecution only caused the Church to flourish and continue in a perpetual state of revival. After Diocletian’s unsuccessful attack on the Church, Constantine succeeded him as emperor of Rome. Constantine’s ascendancy to the throne was not without controversy, and it had far-reaching effects on the Christian Church of the fourth, fifth, and sixth centuries.

Constantine, already attracted by Christianity, allegedly saw a vision of a fiery cross in the sky and heard a voice saying, “In this sign conquer”.

Paganism introduced into the Church

The influence of paganism on the Church increased over the years step by step. The Church began to shroud itself in “mystery” and ritualism that had a strong resemblance to Babylonian mysticism. The following is a partial list of unscriptural changes introduced during this age. Gradually these changes became more prominent than the original teachings of Christianity.

A.D. 300 - Prayers for the dead

A.D. 300 - Making sign of the cross

A.D. 375 - Worship of saints and angels

A.D. 394 - Mass first instituted

A.D. 431 - Worship of Mary began

A.D. 500 - Priests began dressing differently than laymen

A.D. 526 - Extreme unction (a sacrament in which a priest anoints and prays for the recovery and salvation of a critically ill or injured person.)

A.D. 593 - Doctrine of purgatory introduced

A.D. 600 - Worship services conducted in Latin

A.D. 600 - Prayers directed to Mary

From A.D. 312 on, the Church became more Roman and less Christian on its practices. The Roman Catholic Church of today is hard put to trace its ancestry beyond A.D. 312.

The name Pergamum literally means “marriage” or “elevation”. As the Church became married to the governmental authority and elevated to a place of acceptance, it declined in spiritual blessing and power.

Postmillennialism Introduced

As the Church became rich and powerful, it was suggested that the world was getting better and better, that Jesus’ kingdom was already ushered in, and that he would come at the end of the thousand year reign. This demanded reinterpretation of the status of Israel, which was accomplished by suggesting that Israel had been “cast off forever” and the promises of Israel now applied to the Church.

Whenever a local Church or denomination has maintained a strong emphasis on the second coming of Jesus, it has been an evangelistic, missionary-sending station. Where this doctrine has been neglected, the church has become cold, indifferent, and worldly.

The Nature of Jesus Revealed to Pergamum

To Pergamum he revealed the “sharp two-edged sword” which without question

refers to the Word of God. The cure for the problems of the local Church at Pergamum, of the Pergamum age of the Church, or of any church is the Word of God

Jesus used the Word of God to sanctify His Church (John 17:17)

to clean it (John 15:3)

to bring it joy (John 15:11)

to bring it peace (John 16:3)

Had the church of Pergamum and the Pergamum age heeded the Word of God, the evils of the Dark Ages could well have been avoided.

Jesus’ Commendation to Pergamum

The commendation of Jesus to Pergamum, in verse 13 falls into three basic categories.

1. I know your works, and where you dwell, even where Satan’s throne is.

2. You hold fast to my name. Criticism cannot be hurled against the Doctrine this Church or church age, for they were doctrinally pure. But they sinned by taking in the ceremonies of paganism.

3. ..and hast not denied my faith. Much of this has already been covered.

Condemnation

The condemnation of Jesus given to the church of Pergamum reveals that although their theological doctrine was correct, their practical doctrines were radically evil. These false doctrines fell into two main categories.

Revelation 2:14

The Doctrine of Balaam

The Doctrine of the Nicolaitans

Counsel

Repent or be judged by the Word of God

Jesus’ Challenge to the Church of Pergamum

It is directed to overcomers - two beautiful symbols loaded with meaning

“hidden manna” and “a white stone”

Hidden manna (Expanded in Conversation)

The White Stone (Expanded in Conversation)

Amen

[1] Numbers chapters 22-25 and 31 see also 2 Peter 2:15 and Jude 11.

[2] See Isaiah 62:2 and 65:15

#christianity #bible study #bibletruth #blog post #blessings #psalmonesermons #faith #victory #devotional #7 churches of revelation #Smyrna #compromised church

[psalmonesermons]

The 7 churches of Revelation

What can we learn from them? 2. Smyrna

Each church usually has a commendation, a criticism, and a correction

To the Church in Smyrna –the persecuted church-under Satanic attack

Smyrna was a beautiful city with a temperate climate and was a loyal Roman colony. The church in Smyrna was probably founded by Paul between 53-56 AD). The church father Polycarp lived in Smyrna in those days and beyond but was martyred at the stake at age eighty six (in 155 AD). According to the story the flames would not touch him so they had to kill him with a sharp weapon. He died refusing to recant his faith in Jesus Christ.

2:8 “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:

These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test[1] you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.

Jesus knows about life and death having experienced both. Jesus also knew all about their suffering church in Smyrna. Many were thrown out of their jobs for being Christian and lost their livelihoods. Their goods would be confiscated and they would be badly beaten. Jesus considered these faithful brothers and sisters as rich in the things of God. Many Jews were the first to be the accusers of the Christians who as such were more like Satan the chief accuser of the brethren than like the righteous Jews they ought to be as commanded by the Law. Jesus warns them about the intensifying of their suffering which is about to happen in which they will be imprisoned and after ten days they will be put to death for holding onto their faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus tells them to be faithful even though it costs them their lives.

11 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Those who are victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.

These saints in Smyrna were called to be bearers of the Gospel light. The first death may engulf them but they will never be affected by the second death where the devil and his angels will be cast into the everlasting lake of fire (Gehenna).

Smyrna continued

THE COMMENDATION & CRITICISM

Jesus’s commendation is highly significant because He has no major criticism!

Ephesians 2:9 says:

“I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not but are a synagogue of Satan."

Jesus said He knew four things about the church in Smyrna:

1. Jesus knows their good works.

"I know your works:" That is the same phrase Jesus used when speaking to the church of Ephesus. The church in Smyrna likewise was working as unto the Lord, and Jesus recognized their ministry.

God knows your works today.

God sees. God knows. God will not overlook it.

2. Jesus knows their pain.

The Greek word can be translated: tribulation, affliction, trouble, anguish, persecution, burdens. We could probably add the word pain. Jesus is saying, “I know you look afflicted and poor, but I consider you rich!"

God sees your afflictions today.

Why does it seem to take suffering to remind us that God is sovereign and will work everything out for our good and His glory?

Romans 8:28 ("All things work together for good to those who love God"). We have the choice of how we to respond to all our problems.

We need to have a scriptural view of suffering. Consider myrrh, of which the city of Smyrna was named after. When the myrrh fruit was crushed, it releases an aroma and was also used to anoint the priests. If you have suffered, you are now someone who can use that pain to minister to others. What an appropriate gift for Jesus from the Magi: gold (for a king), frankincense (for a burial) and myrrh (to anoint a priest).

We can be most effective after we have been greatly bruised and crushed--and an aroma that is pleasing to the Lord arises from our suffering.”

3. Jesus knows their poverty.

In fact, Jesus states that they are rich! The word for poverty means abject or absolute poverty. They had absolutely nothing. That was because of the persecution from Satan they were facing. Jesus is aware of us when we are in a helpless state, both spiritually and otherwise.

Jesus sees what you are going through today.

4. Jesus knows their persecution.

"And I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not but are a synagogue of Satan."

The Jews in Smyrna were particularly against Christianity. It didn't help that Christians replaced the catchphrase of Caesar worship, "Caesar is LORD" with "Jesus is LORD’’ when you are abandoning the compulsory worship of the state emperor.

Jesus is saying that when we face persecution and trouble from people, do not forget who your adversary is really. It is not the person in front of you, it is Satan!

Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6:12 that, "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

You are not fighting against your colleagues, your teachers, your in-laws, your clients, that especially hostile guy in the workplace, the people slandering you on their blog, or through that email they sent you—your struggle is not against flesh and blood! It is against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms! Who writes their lines?

THE CORRECTION

"Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation 10 days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”’

Jesus' correction for them is not to fear. They were about to have 10 days of tribulation, including prison. This could have literally been 10 days, or as some have said there were the 10 years that the Rome violently persecuted Christians during this time. Either way, what is most important is that their suffering would be temporary. This promise would encourage them that there was an end in sight to their suffering.

It is a sobering thought that Jesus did not spare them, but rather told them it is about to get worse, a lot worse, perhaps even resulting in death.

The Christians had a choice, to compromise or to be faithful. You see, Caesar worship was required by Rome. If you persisted with Jesus is Lord and not Caesar, you would be at risk of execution.

What would you do?

Many of us would probably run from suffering because of fear, and we would just lie and get the certificate to spare our lives and the lives of our families.

But Jesus here says, “Don’t be afraid; don’t run!”

THE REWARD-THE CROWN

Sometimes we are surprised by our suffering. It seems to come out of nowhere. And sometimes it seems like it will never end. But we are not to be surprised. We are to be ready. We are to endure to the end, even if that end includes death. Why? Because Jesus promises a crown. For the Smyrnaeans, it would be the crown of life--to not be hurt by the second death.

Consider Jesus, and the suffering He endured. "Gethsemane" means "olive press." It has the same meaning that myrrh does. Jesus had to suffer, to give His life as a ransom for many. He did so for others, for you and me.

Peter, who was eyewitness to Jesus' suffering, uses this as the motivation for you and me in our sufferings:

"Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for human desires, but rather for the will of God" (1 Peter 4:1-2).

"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen"(1 Peter 5:8-11).

Further thoughts

Had the church in Smyrna been the most prepared of the 7 churches for the ultimate test of probable martyrdom? What do you think?

For those who stand strong amid severe trials, the best is yet to come. We will receive the “crown of life” and reign with Jesus forever.

Be encouraged, child of God. Buckle up your armour and get back into the fray. Do not run from the troubles of life. You are richer and better equipped than you think.

Jesus is coming back soon! Jesus knows your troubles. He knows your poverty. He knows your enemies.

Jesus says, “Do not fear. Be faithful, and I will give you the crown of life.” Are we willing to be faithful to the Lord no matter the cost?

Amen

For an in depth study on the church at Smyrna see Pilgrim Benham (Calvary Chapel)-COMFORT THROUGH THE HARD TIMES: LESSONS FROM THE CHURCH OF SMYRNA

[1] Greek peirazo Lit; test, try , assay. The testing of the believer’s strength , loyalty, faith , patience etc. i.e. testing of direction and character.

[2] Numbers chapters 22-25 and 31 see also 2 Peter 2:15 and Jude 11.

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God is a name changer I will change your name

When I first met my wife Christine, her name was Gilchrist. It is quite rare to meet a person whose name began with Christ and ends with Christ! When we married Christine adopted my surname and became Christine Green, so in a sense you could say that I changed Christine’s name. Another legal way of changing your name in modern times is have it changed by deed poll.

In the bible name changes are highly significant and often reflect a new identity or character. God is in the business of changing the names of his covenant people. Here are some examples from the Old Testament. Genesis 17:5 The Lord changed the name of Abram meaning ‘exalted father’ to Abraham meaning ‘father of a multitude of nations.’

Genesis 17:15 The Lord changed the name of Sarai meaning ‘my princess’ to Sarah meaning ‘princess and mother of the nations.’

Genesis 32:28 The Lord changed the name of Jacob meaning ‘supplanter, cheat, heelgrabber’ to Israel ‘a prince with God, striver with God and man’

When God gives someone a new name, he gives them the nature and character to go with it. God fulfilled this for the above examples.

Jesus, the son of God continued to change names in the new testament. John 1:42 Simon meaning ‘hearer’ was changed to Petros meaning ‘rock’ or ‘stone.’ You could say that when Simon heard the Living Word, he was transformed into a rock who provided solid strength to his brothers.

In the book of Revelation 2:17 we are told that Jesus Christ will give each victor a new name, and a name which no one will know except the one who receives it. This suggests to me a wonderful intimacy between the Lord and the recipient.

Over the centuries and millennia God has given various name changes to the nation of Israel. In Isaiah 62:2-4 No longer ‘forsaken’[1] and ‘deserted’[2] but a ‘delight’[3] and ‘married’[4].

In Hosea 1:6-9 the Lord calls Israel the following names v6 Lohrumah meaning ‘not obtained compassion’, v9 Lo-ammi meaning ‘not my people’. But in Hosea 1:10 and in Hosea 2:1 God shows the future name changes he will bring for Israel. In 1:10 they will be called ‘sons of the Living God’ and in 2:1 ‘ammi’ meaning ‘my people https://www.instagram.com/p/CnwzO03ogQ0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[psalmonesermons]

The 7 churches of Revelation

What can we learn from them? 1. Ephesus

With almost all these churches, there is a commendation, a criticism, and a correction.

To the Church in Ephesus-wrong priorities

Ephesus was the first church to be founded in Asia Minor and could be described as the church that no longer loves as it should.

Revelation 2:1 “To the angel [a] of the church in Ephesus write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

Jesus Christ is speaking and shows His authority over the angels of the seven churches by indicating that they are in His right hand and shows His intimate care and concern for the seven churches by walking amongst them. Jesus praises their works, their endeavour and the ‘stick-ability’ to His cause. He also praises the fact that they cannot stomach false teachers and have rightly discerned such even including false apostles. Nevertheless the Ephesian church had stuck fast to their faith putting up with the various difficulties and persecutions and continued in a tireless way with their Christian service.

2:4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6 But you have this in your favour: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Their initial spiritual spontaneity and vitality had given way to a dour routine service done out of duty rather than out of love. They have fallen away from the intimate first love of the Saviour and he commands them to do a U-turn back to Him and rekindle the first love with Him again. If they refuse to do this Jesus threatens that He will take away the witness of this church, in other words they will no longer bear the light of the Gospel and will cease to be a ‘spiritually alive’ church. It is sad to think that this actually happened. The Nicolaitans are thought to be those people who made light of sin (anti-nomianism) and were happy to join in the pagan festivals eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols and taking part in immoral pagan practices.

2:7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To those who are victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

They need to hear this message with their spiritual ears and take onboard what the Holy Spirit is saying to them. This is like military combat and the prize of eternal life is waiting for those who overcome the world, the flesh and the devil. The fruit of the tree of life is infinitely better food than the meat that has been sacrificed to idols and brings everlasting life.

The Ephesus church had got its priorities mixed up!

If your church is like the one in Ephesus, you will be getting some things right.

Jesus commends them for three things:

1. Duty and responsibilities: They were hard-working, busy servants. Lots of work--but busyness in a church does not always mean the Spirit is at work. Often when things are simple, you can focus your energy on what is most important, things like in Acts 2:42 instead of all the flurry of things some churches expend all their energy doing. But Jesus was commending them for their good works.

2. Doctrine: The church at Ephesus could not bear those who were evil. They would check out, test, and confirm if someone were true or false according to Biblical orthodoxy, and if they were false, the church would rightly reject with their teaching. The word "bear" is the same word used of Jesus carrying the cross. This church could not bear the weight of wrong doctrine. They could not carry it and would not tolerate it. The church of Ephesus knew good doctrine; they knew what they believed. Oh that, the church of Jesus Christ today be more like Ephesus on that specific point! Many Christians today cannot even explain the Gospel clearly or communicate sound doctrine.

3. Determination: They were persevering and hanging on in there despite a lot of hardship, attack, and suffering. Jesus says, "You have not become weary." That is incredible! They were the marathon runners of the church! Many people give up as soon as there is a problem in their faith, but not the church of Ephesus.

So, with all these positives, did Jesus just stop there? Ephesus seems a great church to be a part of. However it is less important if you are doing amazing things for God, than if you have separated yourself from the love of God.

The Criticism

How could we possibly forget our first love, the Lord Jesus? Here are four possible ways that we can leave our first love:

1. We can replace love for the Lord with rules and duty.

Our dealings with the Lord must be more than a set of rules which are not based on a personal relationship with him. Perhaps this is what happened to the Ephesian Church? Perhaps they began to set up rigid rules and guidelines and end up serving God but out of duty, not out of desire. Obligation does not necessarily mean love. How does your own church rate in this matter?

2. We can replace love for the Lord with feelings and emotion

Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. God created us with emotions, so we could be limiting our personal expression of the imago Dei if we suppressed all emotions? Jesus wept over Jerusalem, had compassion for the crowds who were unshepherded, drove out in anger the money changers from the temple. We read in Scripture that the Holy Spirit can be grieved. These are all emotional responses, and we would probably be stinting on our love for God if we were always suppressing our joy or sadness. But by the same token, we should not base the quality or reality of our love simply on how we raise our hands, pray our prayers, or cry our tears.

''True love is not a feeling by which we are overwhelmed. It is a committed, thoughtful decision." (Dr M Scott Peck)

Have we replaced our love for the Lord with emotion? Has your church fellowship left your first love?

3. We can replace love with works.

The church at Ephesus had gotten so bogged down with their heresy hunting that they forgot that church is where people experience the love of God and the love of God’s people. What we tend to find in most modern churches is that our people are saturated with committed busy-ness. How many of us stand exposed as being bogged down in the busy works of Christianity instead of choosing what is better (like Mary vs Martha)?

4. We can replace love with disinterest

Sometimes we become desensitized to the things of God because they become over familiar. Instead of keeping our zeal for the Lord as we serve Him, we get bored by the same old routines. When there is a lack of desire in your heart for the things of God it is time for a renewing of your mind! The church of Ephesus had warm hands but cold hearts. Could that describe us today in our relationship with God?

Once a thriving spiritual community, the Ephesian believers diverted their attention from Christ, to works done in His name. They had lost sight of what was most important in their relationship with Christ— their love for Him.

Perhaps that is where many modern churches are today. Forgetting the height from which we have fallen, we need to repent that we may experience times of refreshing from the Lord once again. We must return to our first love and remember that He first loved us. That first love--that pure love--the love that never lets you go--the love that accepts you even now--with all your rebellion and coolness toward Him--is available for each one of us. We may not find the perfect church--but we have certainly discovered perfect love.

Summary: This type of church needs to get their priorities straightened out and return to their first love.

Remedial Actions (pardon the alliteration): Remember. Repent. Return.

Amen

Further thoughts on Ephesus

It is widely accepted in business circles, that often our strengths and weaknesses can be two sides of the same coin. An example might be our determination to forge ahead is usually an asset but what about the other side of the coin, by which we ignore what other people are saying, this can indeed be a weakness!

Could it be that the Ephesian church because of their zeal for duty and pure doctrine became desensitised to love and gave it a lower priority? Our first love for God cannot be easily separated from our love for the church. They had lost the balance and were putting doctrine and duty ahead of their for the church family. This is tricky because duty and doctrine are indeed important but must be balanced with our love and care for the Lord and his church family.

It is possible today that many churches have got their priorities mixed up? What about your church?

For an in depth treatment of the Church in Ephesus we recommend Pilgrim Benham (Calvary Chapel): A letter to a modern church.

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Jesus' Manifesto Part 4/4

The summary of the onward transmission of Jesus’ Manifesto and the biblical basis for it applying to all believers.

The summary of the onward transmission of the Great Commission is as follows below.

Jesus -Luke 4:18-19 manifesto for humanity-given in the synagogue.

Jesus -Mark 16:15-18 the 11 disciples-when Jesus appeared after the resurrection.

Jesus -Matthew 28:18-20 great commission- to the disciples-spreading out to the nations

The Holy Spirit-Acts 2:1-4 Pentecost- to the 120 in the upper room then to thousands in the Jerusalem-then beyond

The bible and the church through the ages - to you and me today

Does the Great Commission still apply today?

Was this not just for the original 12 disciples? No see the biblical evidence below.

Not everyone is an evangelist! -True but we are all called to be witnesses.

Evidence that it still applies to all believers.

1. The command to witness is for all believers.

2. The example of ordinary believers in the early church.

3. The Gospel places a stewardship on us.

4. The work of the ministry in Ephesians 4:12.

1.The commands to witness are given to all followers of Christ. Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” This verse gives a command from the risen Lord to all his followers.

2 Cor. 5:18-20 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ,

God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

2. Consider the example of “ordinary believers” in the early church. As we follow the storyline of the early church it is obvious that the apostles sought to evangelize and disciple others. But we see ordinary believers sharing the gospel as well.

We read in Acts 8:1, “And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.” And what did those ordinary believers do? Acts 8:4 “Now those who were scattered went about preaching (euangelizomenoi) the word.” They went about sharing the gospel with others.

3. Consider the stewardship the gospel confers on us. Jesus reminds us, “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required” (Luke 12:48). We have been given no greater gift than the gospel, and we have no greater stewardship than to share that message of good news with others. Paul expresses it well in 2 Corinthians 5:14: “for the love of Christ compels us.”

4. Finally, consider what Paul calls “the work of ministry” in Ephesians 4:11-12 The 5-fold ministry (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers). The reason God “gifts” the church with such leaders is so that they will “equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” -(Eph. 4:12). And we should certainly include sharing the Gospel in “the work of ministry.”

In conclusion all believers need to be carrying on the work of the Great Commission today.

Amen

Personal Prayer

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Jesus' Manifesto Part 3 The ongoing transmission

The Great Commission Matthew 28:18-20

Jesus’ mission (manifesto) was passed down to the disciples and so on, all the way down to us believers today.

Mark 16:15-18 is similar to Matthew 28:18-20

15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Jesus’ manifesto was first passed to the 11 disciples and ultimately to the whole church including us- c.f Matthew 28:18-20 The Great Commission is our commission.

Many believers look for confirmation in a “calling.” But Jesus did not call some (or any) of his followers to his mission. Rather, he called them to himself and sent them on mission. If you are walking with Jesus, his manifesto is incumbent on you and me.

Every disciple must be a disciple-maker, whether God sends you down the street or to the other side of the world. As you go to work, to the grocery store, to the foodbank, or to the gym- live and love like Jesus. Be confident in his authority.

Mark 16:15-18 describes the full gospel: salvation from sin, deliverance from demons, healing and curing of sickness and disease, and immunity from poisons.

The next transmission of Jesus’ manifesto was in:

The Great Commission Matthew 28:18-20

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Consider the four “alls” of Christ’s commission, “All authority”, To go to “all nations”, To communicate “all his teaching,” strengthened by his presence “all the time” (translated always).

Jesus claims to have all authority in the universe to lead us on this journey. He claims that his teaching is the most important thing in life to follow and therefore, he claims that all nations need to know his teaching. And last but not least, he claims that he will be with us for all time.

Huge claims, and in the literal sense, incredible — you would not believe them unless Jesus is God.

Whatever, the four “alls” might mean for you and me and wherever the Lord takes us, be it near or far we must not let fear crowd out our faith. Jesus spoke these words to give us a task and to give us courage in and through the task. These four “alls” remind us that the burden is not on us but on Jesus Christ himself.

However, we are obliged to obey Jesus’ command, for the Great Commission is for every believer.

Amen

Personal Prayer

In Part 4 we consider the onward transmission of Jesus’ manifesto on the day of Pentecost.

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Jesus' Manifesto Part 2

Isaiah 61:1-2 and Luke 4:18-19

Isaiah 61:1-2

1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,

Because the Lord has anointed Me

To preach good tidings to the poor.

He has sent Me to heal the broken-hearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives,

And the opening of the prison to those who are bound.

2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,

And the day of vengeance of our God.

To comfort all who mourn,

Jesus quoted from this scripture showing that the Holy Spirit had anointed him, like the holy oil used to consecrate holy persons (the priests) and holy things (in the tabernacle and temple). Yeshua Ha’Meshiach in Hebrew becomes Jesus Christos in the Greek i.e. the anointed one and we Christians are the little ‘anointed ones’.

The anointing confers God’s power on the anointed one showing that the Messiah is chosen and empowered by God.

The Messiah would fulfil this scripture which is exactly what Jesus did in Luke 4:18-19

These verses describe the essence of Jesus’ mission or ministry.

The ministry of the Messiah is empowered to bring healing, freedom, and comfort to his people i.e. full redemption.

Back to Luke

Luke 4:20 Then He closed the book and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 So all bore witness to Him and marvelled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”

v20-21 Jesus did not prolong his message but stuck closely to the point which was that those people privileged to hear these gracious words were actually simply hearing not only these prophetic words about the coming Messiah but were witnesses to the actual Messiah proclaiming them- in a sense Jesus is saying – the promised Messiah- I am he.

v22 the congregation were astonished by these (lit.) words of grace- but wanted to dismiss Jesus claims of being ‘the Messiah’ – who does he think he is – I kent [1] his faither Joseph. Will not the Messiah come from royalty and come on a big white horse to defeat the Romans?

In Part 3 we will consider the onward transmission of Jesus’ manifesto (mission) through the church.

[1] Scottish vernacular used to make a point.

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Jesus' Manifesto Part 1

Luke 4:18-19

The UK news media is buzzing at present with speculation as to when the next UK general election will take place.

Once the date is announced the politicians will be delivering their manifestos to entice the electorate to vote for them and their party.

The manifesto contains the promises of what the politician intends to perform If the people elects them.

In a sense that is what Jesus did in in the scripture Luke 4:18-19 which you could say was his manifesto, or his mission, or his agenda, or his platform, or even as his job description but please note his manifesto was based exclusively on the will of Father God as described in the Holy Scriptures.

A what a wonderful manifesto it was, no one has before or since gave such wonderful promises to humankind as Jesus did in his manifesto.

And unlike many politicians, Jesus delivered, then and now, each and every promise in his manifesto. PTL.

Context of Luke 4:18-19

Luke 4:16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:

Jesus’ Manifesto

18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the broken-hearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed.

19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.

Jesus was anointed (saturated) with the Holy Spirit to fulfil the specific purposes for which the Father God had sent him.

Each point Jesus makes is part of the wonderful news in his manifesto.

1.To preach the Gospel the good news of salvation to the poor. The poor* being everyone who was as sinner and had no way of obtaining forgiveness of their sins and

receiving God’s salvation. * biblically =dependent on others i.e. spiritually speaking to us all.

2. To heal the broken hearted- one of the Teen Challenge (addiction recovery) leaders explained to me that everyone who has addiction problems has had a broken heart in their relationships in life.

Many other people have had their hearts broken too in their life relationships and experiences but without addiction.

Jesus came specifically to bind up the broken hearts to restore meaning, purpose, and wholeness to our lives.

Remember Matthew 12:20 A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench, Till He sends forth justice to victory; (Isa 42:3) when we feel that we are hanging by a thread or that our candle flame is going to go out. Jesus binds up our strands and breathes his oxygen onto our flames.

The wonderful news in Jesus’ manifesto continues.

3. Jesus came to set people free from the bondage and slavery of sin which takes them captive at will.

The believer no longer is at the whim of sin but can stand against it in using the full panoply of armour of God and the weapons Jesus has given us.

Jesus came to remove all our guilt, and shame-these are often Satan’s weapons to hold us back from serving God.

4. Not only did Jesus often heal the physical blindness in his earthly ministry but more importantly took away the blindness of the unbelievers when we were saved into God’s Kingdom. Remember the hymn line from ‘Amazing grace’: ‘I once was blind but now I see.’

That was you and I until we became believers.

5. Jesus came to set at liberty those who are oppressed by the devil, those held down from living their lives to the full by demonic oppression in its various manifestations.

v19 The acceptable year of the Lord refers to the Jubilee year (50th) of the Lord in which land was returned to the original owner, all debts were forgiven, slaves were released- these are good parallels in the life of the believers when we are first saved.

The Jubilee year was the year of redemption, Jesus announced that He was bringing full scale redemption to humankind in his manifesto.

Amen

Personal Prayer

In part 2 we consider the words that Jesus read from Isaiah 61:1-2

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Insights into Ezekiel

Ezekiel 9 Let the judgements of God now begin!

The Wicked Are Slain

1 Then He called out in my hearing with a loud voice, saying, “Let those who have charge over the city draw near, each with a deadly weapon in his hand.” 2 And suddenly six men came from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with his battle-ax in his hand. One man among them was clothed with linen and had a writer’s inkhorn at his side. They went in and stood beside the bronze altar.

God instructs his angelic warriors (watchers) who ironically would have been involved in the protection of the city to prepare their weapons of destruction to conduct his judgement. The deadly weapons the six angels carried were literally ‘shattering weapons’ or ‘slaughter-weapons’. Matthew Henry suggests the number of angels (six) was the same number as the six main gates of Jerusalem. There was amongst the six angels another one who was clothed in linen which was the type of garment worn by the priests. This person also had an ink horn like an ancient lawyer and was there to assist by marking some people for mercy. The presence of a priestly person makes us think of Jesus as the great High Priest and Mediator who saves humankind from divine justice.

Some think that what Ezekiel is seeing here is prophetic of what the Chaldeans will do to Jerusalem some five years later.

3 Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub, where it had been, to the threshold of the temple.[a] And He called to the man clothed with linen, who had the writer’s inkhorn at his side; 4 and the Lord said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.”

The divine glory had moved up from the mercy seat to the temple threshold indicating that the Lord was moving from mercy into judgement. The Lord summoned the seventh angel and instructed him to put a mark like a cross on the foreheads of those who mourned over the sins of those who were defiling the temple. Those who had the X mark (Hebrew taw) on their foreheads would be spared as a righteous remnant from the coming judgement.

5 To the others He said in my hearing, “Go after him through the city and kill; do not let your eye spare, nor have any pity. 6 Utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the temple. 7 Then He said to them, “Defile the temple, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out!” And they went out and killed in the city.

The six warrior angels are commanded to destroy the idolaters with the single exception of those marked by the angel with the inkhorn as above. The angels are commanded to show no mercy on the guilty irrespective of age or gender and were to begin at the sanctuary which had been profaned by the guilty. The angels started with the elders who were at the temple. The angels were told to further defile the holy temple by filling its courts with the dead bodies of those whom they had executed.

8 So it was, that while they were killing them, I was left alone; and I fell on my face and cried out, and said, “Ah, Lord God! Will You destroy all the remnant of Israel in pouring out Your fury on Jerusalem?”

Ezekiel falls on his face and begins to intercede for the guilty people who are being put to death by the six angels. He appeals to the Lord God of Israel asking him to remember to save a remnant of his people as he pours out his fury on Jerusalem.

9 Then He said to me, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great, and the land is full of bloodshed, and the city full of perversity; for they say, ‘The Lord has forsaken the land, and the Lord does not see!’ 10 And as for Me also, My eye will neither spare, nor will I have pity, but I will recompense their deeds on their own head.”

God replies to Ezekiel’s intercession that the children of Israel were too far gone into sin that it was now appropriate that the Lord God was compelled to judge them. The Israelites could not be allowed to continue there many heinous sins including the shedding of innocent blood, their perversity, and thinking that the Lord God did not see how they were living in the depths of sin.

The Lord states because of the depth of sin being committed that he will not show any mercy on the guilty irrespective of age or gender as he had commanded the six angels.

11 Just then, the man clothed with linen, who had the inkhorn at his side, reported back and said, “I have done as You commanded me.”

The seventh angel with the inkhorn now reports back to the Lord that he has completed the marking of the remnant who are to be excluded from this terrible judgement.

Footnotes: Ezekiel 9:3 Literally house

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Insights into Ezekiel Chapter 8:1-18

Chapters 8-11 now go onto to describe Ezekiel’s second vision. It has been estimated that some 14 months had elapsed between the prophet’s first and second visions.

Wickedness in the Holy Temple

God reveals to Ezekiel in detail via the angel just how utterly evil the practices of specifically the elders have become having previously dealt with the evil practices of the whole people of Israel i.e. rank and file in his first vision as described in Chapter 1.

1. And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house with the elders of Judah sitting before me, that the hand of the Lord God fell upon me there. 2 Then I looked, and there was a likeness, like the appearance of fire—from the appearance of His waist and downward, fire, and from His waist and upward, like the appearance of brightness, like the colour of amber. 3 He stretched out the form of a hand and took me by a lock of my hair; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven, and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the north gate of the inner court, where the seat of the image of jealousy was, which provokes to jealousy. 4 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the vision that I saw in the plain.

On a specific year, a specific month and specific day a delegation of the Jewish elders had come to Ezekiel seeking a word from the Lord and certainly looking for some crumb of comfort. However, they were in for a big disappointment, and no sooner had they come to prophet when the hand of the Lord fell upon Ezekiel and there appeared a heavenly being who fitted the description of the first angelic being in Chapter 1:27. The angel stretched out his hand and took the prophet by a lock of his hair and transports him supernaturally into a vision of Jerusalem and specifically to the inner court of the Holy Temple where a detestable idolatrous image had been set up and was provoking the Lord to an angry jealousy. However at that time the glory of the Lord had not departed from the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

5 Then He said to me, “Son of man, lift your eyes now toward the north.” So I lifted my eyes toward the north, and there, north of the altar gate, was this image of jealousy in the entrance.

The prophet is now permitted to take a tour of the Holy Temple to see the various idolatrous practices being conducted there. These abominations get progressively worse. The angel leads Ezekiel in successive steps from the outside of the HT in towards the Holy of Holies. The first of the four abominations is that mentioned in verse 5 the image of jealousy at the entrance to the temple. Some commentators think that this idol was an Asherah or pagan fertility Goddess in the form of a woman. This idol was located where those guards who should protect the Holy Temple should stand. How ironic this idol could offer no protection against whomsoever the Lord’s sends in judgement.

6 Furthermore He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel commits here, to make Me go far away from My sanctuary? Now turn again, you will see greater abominations.” 7 So He brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, there was a hole in the wall.8 Then He said to me, “Son of man, dig into the wall”; and when I dug into the wall, there was a door.

God tells Ezekiel that in effect He is being driven out of His Holy Temple by the wicked abominations being practiced inside it. Ezekiel’s attention is now drawn towards a hole that someone has started digging in the Temple Court wall. The prophet is instructed to enlarge the hole until he finds a secret door.

9 And He said to me, “Go in, and see the wicked abominations which they are doing there.” 10 So I went in and saw, and there—every creeping thing, abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed all around on the walls. 11 And there stood before them seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, and in their midst stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan. Each man had a censer in his hand, and a thick cloud of incense went up. 12 Then He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the room of his idols? For they say, ‘The Lord does not see us, the Lord has forsaken the land.’”

Ezekiel is instructed to open the door where to his horror he sees a room full of despicable idols which are also depicted on the walls of the room. The idols are different in nature including those depicted as insects and others depicted as animals. He sees 70 of the elders of Israel whose job it was to protect all the Holy Things in Judaism offering incense to these evil idols. Shockingly, one of the elders Jaazaniah was from a priestly family and a righteous line. These 70 elders think that God has departed and that He can longer see their heathen worship.

13 And He said to me, “Turn again, and you will see greater abominations that they are doing.” 14 So He brought me to the door of the north gate of the Lord’s house; and to my dismay, women were sitting there weeping for Tammuz.

Ezekiel is given a further instruction to move towards the northeast corner of the Temple and discover even more vile abominations being practiced in the Lord’s House. The prophet now sees women weeping for the Babylonian nature god called Tammuz. This pagan practice celebrated the seasons of nature believing that the weeping would resurrect Tammuz the spring God to go on a produce a good crop harvest in summer. What an insult to the Creator God and yet another clear breach of the 10 commandments.

15 Then He said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? Turn again, you will see greater abominations than these.” 16 So He brought me into the inner court of the Lord’s house; and there, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs toward the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east, and they were worshiping the sun toward the east.

The prophets tour now reaches its very lowest point in the inner court of the Lord’s House he sees between the porch and the altar and with their backs to God 25 men who were worshipping the sun. Again, an abomination clearly forbidden in the 10 commandments. They are rubbing the Lord’s nose into their sins in a place where He promised to dwell.

17 And He said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it a trivial thing to the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence; then they have returned to provoke Me to anger. Indeed they put the branch to their nose. 18 Therefore I also will act in fury. My eye will not spare, nor will I have pity; and though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them.”

Should such abominations ever occur the Temple of the Living God? These sinful people thought it was no big deal to profane God’s own Temple. Not content with all their violence and other sins outside the Temple they had to come to do worse in the face of God. The party is over their judgment is knocking at the door. In summary these Jews had worshipped every type of creature including humans or part humans even the heavenly bodies and celebrated the Gods of many other lands such as Babylon, Egypt, and others. Each act of idolatrous worship violates the 10 commandments given to them via Moses. It is now the Lord's time for payback.

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[psalmonesermons]

The meaning of the Resurrection

The resurrection changed everything

Perhaps the most puzzling thing about the resurrection of Jesus Christ is why Christians tend to only speak about it at Easter. This was not the case when the Apostle Paul was preaching;

Acts 17:16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols. 17 Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there. 18 Then [b] certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, “What does this babbler want to say?”

Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection. Paul mentioned the resurrection and Jesus so much that these pagans thought he was talking about two Gods, one called ‘Jesus’ and the other ‘Resurrection’!

The American pastor Rick Warren has rightly said ‘the resurrection changed everything’!

After the resurrection Jesus’ ramshackle band of disciples began to ‘turn the world upside down’.

There are perhaps different approaches we can take when we consider the resurrection.

Today I want to focus in on a few scriptures that give insight into its meaning and purpose.

Death the last enemy has been destroyed by the resurrection of Jesus Christ

1 Corinthians 15:20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the first fruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27 For “He has put all things under His feet.”[a] But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

Effects of Denying the Resurrection

1 Cor 15:29 Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead? 30 And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour? 31 I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”

Paul is saying if there was no resurrection then we are simply wasting our time and we would be as well simply leading natural lives the same as the unbelievers.

The Father God has declared that Jesus Christ is His Son by resurrecting Him from the dead.

Romans 1:1 1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

Jesus Christ naturally speaking was the son of David or the son of Man but after the resurrection the Father calls him the Son of God. God sent his son Jesus Christ into the world born of a woman with a natural family tree of the seed of David and was born under the Law. This Jesus Christ was obedient to Father God through all his short life even unto his sacrificial death on the cross but when God raised him from the dead, he was declared to be the Son of God. At the moment of resurrection God the Father and God the Holy Spirit fully endorsed him as the only begotten Son of the Father giving Jesus Christ a truly unique status and hence power.

That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection

Philippians 3:4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Please note that Lazarus was resuscitated i.e. he came back to a natural life and eventually died.

Jesus Christ was resurrected into a new type of life which would never see death again and conferred various supernatural powers such as being able to appear in locked rooms.

v10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, Paul longed to progressively and intimately come to know Jesus Christ (the Greek word for know is ginosko and was used to describe the relationship between a husband and wife) and the power of his resurrection. This power was much more than needed to simply resuscitate someone like Lazarus i.e. simply recombining his spirit and body to form a living soul but the power to raise Jesus Christ from the dead into an indestructible and everlasting life.

If the resurrection power of God is still available to God’s people then just think what this level of power might be able to achieve in other areas of our lives such as in failed relationships, healing of the body and mind, and to bring all sorts of dead situations back to life!

What do you think?

Amen

Prayer

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[psalmonesermons]

Thought for Resurrection Sunday

Luke 24:5 “Why are you looking for the living amongst the dead”

Guest blogger Jacky Wilson

This portion of Scripture details how the women go to the Lord’s tomb very early in the morning taking with them the spices they had prepared. (Passover had now finished, when the Israelites remember their freedom from under the yoke of slavery to the Egyptians.) These women all have names, and they all have stories. Mary Magdalene was among them. The Lord had cast seven demons out of Mary; then there was Joanna, whom Jesus had healed, a wealthy woman in her own right who helped support Jesus’ travels and preaching from her own financial means. Her husband was a manager in King Herod’s household. Then there was Mary, the mother of Jesus. From the cross Jesus entrusted his widowed mother to John’s care, and she was to live in his home. Also, Salome (the mother of James and John). Then there was Mary the mother of James and the mother of another apostle chosen by Jesus who also walked to the tomb with the other women.

What was going through their minds? Were they remembering and talking about the events of the past few days? Just three days earlier Jesus had been betrayed and sentenced to death. The betrayal had broken their hearts. First, their long-awaited Messiah was dead. Second, one of their trusted leaders, one of the Twelve, had sold Jesus for just 30 pieces of silver. Were they concerned how they would roll the very heavy stone away, or did it not enter their minds, were they just concerned with anointing Jesus' body with spices as was custom for the Jewish People as they did not embalm the dead?

As the women approached the tomb, they found the stone rolled away. What was going through their minds? Panic? Fear? Has anything happened to Jesus’ body? Mary Magdalene took off running; she ran to Peter and John. The other women stayed. Then suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. The women bowed their faces to the ground. They bowed in reverence. The men said to the women “Why are you looking for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you these things, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” Then the women remembered Jesus words ….

Amen

Prayer

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