Pastor Stephanie 2.5.23

His Observations of The Church / 7 Churches of Revelation

◦Observations ~ Constructive criticism

✓Jesus Christ instructs John to: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven Churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.

✓Read: Revelation 2 and 3

◦Understand: The Lamp Stands represent the church. We are a lamp to our neighborhood! A light to the area.

◦In Revelations, John addresses 7 churches in Asia Minor.

✓For Todays message, Think about these questions:

◦What would he be calling us to look at if he examined todays church or if he examined Impact?

◦What would he condemn us for?

◦Could we handle that observation from Christ to give an assessment of our church?

◦Understand: He has the right to come in to what we do, how we act, and to ask / evaluate what we are doing and can if we can handle it he calling!

✓7 Churches:

✓1. Church of Ephesus- I see you’re hard working…but you posted your LOVE!

◦Pastors Thought: You know people who can serve the Lord but are like cactus. And difficult to love on?

◦We need LOVE centered in all we do for the kingdom…If you can’t serve a donut HERE IN LOVE then he can’t use you!

✓2. Church of Smyrna- Jesus calls them to remain faithful in their suffering: “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).

✓3. Church of Pergumum - This third letter is to the believers in Pergamum (or Pergamos), which was a beautiful and art-filled city in the province of Asia built along two tributaries of the Caicus River.

◦I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans” (Revelation 2:14-15). The “teaching of Balaam” is explained in the context, as Christians were eating food that had been sacrificed to idols (religious compromise) and committing sexual immorality (moral compromise).

◦Spirit of Tolerance! You’re mixing and compromising sin!

◦Todays churches are voting on things we should not have to vote on!

✓4. Church of Thyatira: Jesus notes their sin: “Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols” (Revelation 2:20).

◦They have a JEZEBEL spirit! Pastors and marriages caught up in affair after affair! This sexual sin is caught up in the head!

✓5. Church of Sardis: Churches are dead

◦Jesus quickly and clearly condemns the lifeless state of the Sardian church: “I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead” (Revelation 3:2). This church may have had a good reputation, but they were spiritually lifeless. In other words, the church was filled with unsaved people going through the motions of religion.

◦Jesus then calls them to repent of their sin: “Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you received and heard; obey it, and repent” (Revelation 3:2-3a).

◦6. Church of Philadelphia: I see the obedient but hold on so no one will take your crown! KEEP STANDING ON HIS WORD!

◦“Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown” (Revelation 3:10-11).

✓7. Church of Laodicea- NOTHING GOOD TO SAY ABOUT YHIS CHURCH. He states that this church makes me want to throw up!

Revelation 3:14-22. 14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

◦When he addressed them he used references..like Luke Warm Water!

◦Hot water has a purpose! Cold water can quench and has a purpose! Luke Warm is not good for anything but growing yeast. The word of God says Luke warm grows yeast…hypocrites…Can’t use you!

✓Why???

✓Poor- 1. Verse Rev 3:17. How do you not realize you were wretched and miserable? Poor naked and Blind! Are we going to be a church that is poor naked and blind. THIS WAS SAID TO LAODICEA, a very rich church! Known for fabrics but still naked…and you’re blind. Cause you are so self reliant! This was all based on PRIDE! Root of hypocrisy. When did God stop being enough? You’re not satisfied! He will be your satisfying factor! Life is tough but it’s not supposed to be miserable with Him!

◦Matthew 6:21. Wherever your treasure is Your heart will be also!

✓Nakedness - stay clothes in Righteousness! We don’t leave the house without clothes…then DONT leave the house without righteousness I Peter 5:5 5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

◦Isaiah 61:3! 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

◦We should dress like Kings Kids! In righteousness! Dressing appropriately!

◦You Might be Naked If….

◦You’re known for being a Party animal and not Righteousness for Him

◦Worrier more than a worshipper!

◦You’re naked and you don’t even know it!

◦People are leaving the church because we aren’t Dressed to take on the enemy!

✓Blind!: You don’t realize it! We can’t become a social club! Smoke on the stage, Rocking Band, and Starbucks in the back has become more important!This is deceiving them thinking they got it! Instead Leading them away and thinking they are righteous

◦Focus on the Past, bitterness , revenge , ambitions , and then you realize you’re not satisfied!

◦Hot issue now is politics…Politics should not be blinding your view!

◦We have folks Blinded by our religion. Jeremiah 33:3 call to me and I’ll show you!

◦Are you asking God to show you things?

◦Luke 24. I want my eyes open. Pray for Discernment!

◦If you’re here because of tradition then go home!

◦Eyes need to be open! We are fighting BLIND! He has great things to show us!

◦“Prepare the way of the Lord!” This statement of action is not easy and I don’t think we know what it means.

◦God knocking and he’s knocking here at Impact! Let Him in! Be a church that’s says come on in!

◦II Chronicle 7:14 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

◦Ask…AM I BLIND NAKED POOR?