Have you ever looked back over the situations and circumstances in your life and marvelled at how it all worked out in the end?   So many fine details and yet so much synchronicity!

Some people call this “coincidence” (definition: a remarkable concurrence of events or circumstances without apparent causal connection; apparently just random happenings).  But, truthfully, there is no such thing as coincidence when our lives are lovingly and carefully DIRECTED by ALMIGHTY GOD!
 
Because God loves us and is intimately concerned with even the smallest details of our lives, God directs our lives by His Holy Spirit, through His word, and even through people, places and circumstances that seem unpredictable or unexpected to us.  Romans 8:28 reminds us that, “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”  He is just waiting for us to acknowledge His presence and to follow His lead.

In our passage today, we see that when God’s direction can involve some surprisingly supernatural methods such as angelic visitation and the prompting of the Holy Spirit.  But, this ought not surprise us as God has already supernaturally communicated His love and His plans through the birth, death and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus!  God can and will use any means necessary to reach those He loves, including directing an apparent unknown to make His purposes known.  God chose Philip, a quite tradesman who served meals to widows in his spare time over more prominent early church leaders such as Paul or Peter.  It’s inspiring to note that God choses to direct His plans through ordinary people like you and I.  As Oswald Chambers puts, it “All of God’s people are ordinary people who have been made extraordinary by the purpose that God has given them.”

Speaking of purpose, it was no ‘coincidence’ Philip would end up in just enough time, on just the right road, at the exact moment necessary to intersect the Ethiopian eunuch.  This man’s physical limitation as a eunuch prevented him from entering into the temple at Jerusalem to worship…but his heart was already being directed by the Holy Spirit to seek God.  We see that the Ethiopian was reading aloud the words of Isaiah 53:7-8, detailing the sacrificial death of our Savior Jesus!  God’s plans include even the marginalized or overlooked in our world – His plans are always redemptive.  Philip did not come with a pre-planned commentary, he just simply followed God’s divine direction and was able to explain the good news of the gospel to this travelling treasurer.  Mission accomplished!

Our story ends with Philip having the privilege of baptizing the Ethiopian, another DIVINE DIRECTIVE of God.  Since there were no known Christian converts in Ethiopia at the time, who would have baptized the Ethiopian when he arrived home?  God made sure this man’s faith was affirmed and later the Ethiopian was instrumental in sharing the gospel back in Ethiopia. 

Summing it up… God is not limited by our experiences, expertise or expectations.  He wants to transform the world through people willing to have their steps guided by His Word and be supernaturally directed by the Holy Spirit.  May we all be inspired to be like Philip… ready and willing to follow God’s divine direction.  After all, its all for HIS GLORY that we live and breath and have our being (Acts 17:28).

Bless Ya,
​    Pastor Sherry 

​We are continuing our series on the 7 messages to the church in Revelation, looking at the sixth message written to the church at Philadelphia.

The scripture is Rev 3:7-13
“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.
11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

In contrast to last week where we looked at the Church in Sardis to which Jesus gave some pretty strong warnings, there is no critique of the church at Philadelphia offered.  There are only positives to talk about here, in fact, this is the most positive of all the seven messages.

As with each of the seven messages Jesus begins with a greeting. Jesus identifies himself as the one who is holy and true.  These are both descriptors of God himself.  God is the only one who is holy.  He is the definition of true.  Jesus also holds the key of David - to the key of the Kingdom of God itself.  This reveals the theme of this message: an open door.  The open door is used in two different ways in this message.

The first refers to the open door of the gospel.  With his key, Jesus has opened the way to God himself.  The path to salvation is open to any and all who would come. In Philadelphia, as in many of the other early churches, many of the Christian believers were Jews.  While the doors of the kingdom of God have been opened to these believers, the doors of the synagogues have been slammed in their faces. It is ironic that in the city of brotherly love, Jews are attacking their religious siblings, the Christians. Despite this discouragement the doors to the kingdom are wide open and the rewards are there for those who would make the journey. Jesus speaks in Matthew 7:13-14 of two doors available to all people.  One gate is wide and on a broad easy path, however this easy path leads to hell.  The other gate is narrow and the path is challenging, but it is open to all people and it leads to heaven.

The second meaning of the open door refers to a door of opportunity in Philadelphia. “See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut” (Rev 3:8).  There is an open door in Philadelphia for the sharing of the gospel. Philadelphia was on the main highway from Europe to Asia and of the seven churches in Revelation it was most ideally located as a strategic point to share the gospel. I’ve often wondered about Merritt in this regard.  We are ideally situated at the confluence of major highways and many people pass through Merritt.  Just something to chew on.

The church in Philadelphia is also in an ideal situation to share the gospel.  They are not struggling with false doctrines, they are not comfortably complacent; they are spiritually alive, they are holding tightly to Jesus. Yet, even in this church that receives so much praise, Jesus says “I know that you have little strength.” It is possible that this church struggled to be influential because of the local cultural conditions.  As with many of the other early churches, Christians would have been on the fringes of society, often ridiculed, persecuted and denied business opportunities and positions of influence. This does not mean this church is ineffective, it simply points back to Jesus. Human strength is limited.  Jesus has unlimited power!  Only by relying on him can we move forward. A church with little strength, and seemingly, little influence, but a full reliance on Jesus can make a big difference! Jesus calls his church beyond their own strength so that they must rely on him and not themselves. Following Jesus is not about being safe.  It is about trusting him.  There is an open door of opportunity, Jesus’ call is to seize the opportunity.

Jesus finishes the message with some great encouragement for the Philadelphians and for us. He encourages them to hold onto what they have.  Despite the challenges, waiting on Jesus is worth it.  Jesus says that believers will be pillars in the eternal temple with God.  In Philadelphia names of municipal leaders who had accomplished great deeds were inscribed on pillars of local temples.[1] Jesus goes one better.  “The inscribed name signifies identification and ownership. To those who have little influence because of being ostracized, Christ promises recognition in his kingdom worthy of the most noble hero in any society.”[2]

Next Jesus promises “Never again will they leave it.” Philadelphia was in an active volcanic field.  The city was severely damaged in a major quake in AD 17.  Earthquakes were common and people in Philadelphia were often fleeing out of the city.  Jesus is saying that he is the rock and the security of all people.  He is unshakable and totally reliable.  They will no longer have to flee from the city, which should have been their secure home. In the storms and earthquakes of life, Jesus is the solid foundation for all who will trust in him.  All believers are identified with Jesus and they will receive his name. Jesus offers significance, safety and identity for all who will trust him.  The door is open.


[1] Darrell Johnson Discipleship on the Edge pg 108
[2] Barker and Kohlenberger III eds, Expositors Bible Commentary Abridged Edition: New Testament, 1994, pg 1152

We are continuing our series on the 7 messages to the church in Revelation. These 7 letters in Revelation “reflect the full spectrum of faithfulness and faithlessness present in every age of church history.”[1] This time we are looking at the fifth message written to the church at Sardis. 

The text is Revelation 3:1-6.  “To the angel[a] of the church in Sardis write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits[b] 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.
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 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. 6 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
This is the shortest of the seven messages; despite its short length this message is a little scary.  In other messages Jesus begins with some positives and encouragements for the local church before moving to dealing with problems.  However, this is one of two of the seven messages that contains no commendations from Jesus.  Jesus dives right into the problems in the church in Sardis.[2]

Historically this was a large and wealthy church.  It had a reputation for being alive. It was big, busy and looked impressive.  However, Jesus identifies this church as spiritually dead. Maybe the church had great plans and ideas, but never followed though.  Perhaps they are busy and complete many activities, but the activities have become an end in themselves. Finally, perhaps the church is busy with a lot of programs, but they are not reaching out in evangelism.  This all boils down to a simple lesson.  Our faith and our churches are always in danger of losing vital connection to Jesus.  If we do not remain vitally connected with Jesus at some point we will lose contact with him.

Unlike the other churches in Revelation, the problems in Sardis are not false teachings or doctrinal errors.  The problem is a simple matter of obedience.  They know what is true but are comfortably complacent in a wealthy culture and are not living what they know to be true.[3] The church at Sardis is in serious trouble but hope is not lost.  Jesus addresses the situation. 

“Wake up”
The church at Sardis got in trouble because it fell asleep.  Historically the city at Sardis was never conquered by direct assault.  It was built on a mountain and highly defensible.  However, twice it fell when climbers got into the city and opened the gates from within.[4]  “The history of Sardis teaches us that we are never more in danger of falling than when feeling comfortable and at ease.”[5]  The call is to remain constantly vigilant. 

“Strengthen what remains”
Though the church at Sardis is dead, a little remains.  Maybe this is just the outward motions of faith, Sunday services and programs.  These things can be re-invested with the vital energy provided only through Jesus if they turn back to him.  The point is that the activities of the church cannot be an end in themselves.  For example: we sing worship songs on a Sunday morning.  The volume, style and musicianship are far less important than that people are genuinely worshipping Jesus and drawing close to him. 

“Remember what you received”
All believers have received the gospel and the Holy Spirit.  Much like we learned in the message to Ephesus, get back to first love.  Invest in a relationship with Jesus. In the beginning of this message Jesus introduces himself as the one who holds the seven spirits of God.  Just as we have discovered with the 7 churches, the number seven here is symbolic.  It means the complete fullness of the Spirit of God. Believers need to receive the completeness of the Spirit.  As Pentecostals we have long recognized that nothing much is accomplished without the power of the Holy Spirit.  It is he who leads and energizes the church. 

“Hold it fast”
Again, get back to basics.  Be continually filled with the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is not a one and done deal.  We need to be filled everyday. If two people in a marriage stop communicating and responding to each other, eventually the relationship will die.  It is no different with our relationship to the Holy Spirit.

“Repent”
Finally, Jesus commands the church at Sardis to repent.  As we talked about in the message to Pergamum, to repent means to literally change one’s mind, to turn and go the opposite direction. There is a sense of urgency to this message.  Things are bad, changes need to be made immediately. Yet, by returning to a vital connection with Jesus, the church can be re-invigorated.

This message challenges us to examine our own churches and lives. Are we vitally connected to Jesus? Just as we go to the doctor for a check up and the doctors checks our vital signs; churches and believers also need to check vital signs. Do we see evidence of the fruit of the Spirit?  If the Holy Spirit were to vanish from our churches and our lives tomorrow, would we notice? Vital sign checks help diagnose one’s spiritual condition.

This message ends with hope. A few believers in Sardis have remained faithful. The promise is that those who remain connected to Jesus will be dressed in white with him, symbolizing purity and uncompromised convictions. Secondly, the names of those who walk with Jesus will never be blotted out of the book of life. In ancient cities names of citizens were written in a book; when they died, their names were blotted out.[6] Jesus is saying that those names in his book will never be blotted out if they remain loyal to him. This is an incredible encouragement and promise of eternal life with Jesus. In a church that was comfortably complacent, Jesus calls for a return to a vibrant relationship with him.  The promise is eternal life with him.  It’s worth it!


[1] Craig L. Blomberg From Pentecost to Patmos: An Introduction to Acts through Revelation, pg 521
[2] Craig L. Blomberg From Pentecost to Patmos: An Introduction to Acts through Revelation, pg 521
[3] Arrington and Stronstad eds, Life in the Spirit New Testament Commentary 1999, pg 1565
[4] Darrell Johnson, Discipleship on the Edge, pg 100
[5] Darrell Johnson, Discipleship on the Edge pg 100
[6] Barker and Kohlenberger III eds, Expositors Bible Commentary Abridged Edition: New Testament, 1994, pg 1149

We are continuing our series on the 7 messages to the church in Revelation.  The seven churches of revelation “reflect the full spectrum of faithfulness and faithlessness present in every age of church history.”[1]  Thus these seven messages are relevant for all churches for all time.  This time we are looking at the fourth message written to the church at Thyatira. 

“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.
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.’
26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’[b]—just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give that one the morning star. 29 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”  Revelation 2:18-29
 
As we have seen from the previous letters there are both positives and critiques offered by Jesus. This church has love and faith, service and perseverance. This is one of the most positive and glowing commendations given to any of the seven churches.[2]  Not only that but the people are growing in discipleship. 
However, much like we saw last week as we looked at the church of Pergamum, the church at Thyatira is tolerating sexual immorality and eating of food sacrificed to idols.

Historically we know that Thyatira was a vibrant trade centre and much like modern unions, to be involved in many of these businesses one had to be a member of the appropriate trade guild.  Many of the guilds participated in ritual pagan worship as part of their activities and the social activities that the trade guilds organized often revolved around sensual parties.  For a Christian, there were problems with participating in the activities that membership in the trade guilds required.  Without the support of a trade guild Christians would lose out on many business opportunities.

In this environment, the temptation for a Christian was to compromise their faith. In Thyatira the problem is centred around someone named Jezebel and her teachings.  This was probably not the actual name of the false teacher but alludes to the historical Queen Jezebel.[3] The teaching of this Jezebel appear very similar to the Nicolations and Balaamites mentioned in the letters to Ephesus and Pergammum.[4]  This woman Jezebel was teaching the church at Thyatira that you COULD compromise and have it both ways.  You could worship both God and pagan idols.  In a culture where participation in the trade guilds was so important compromise and so called “deep secrets”[5] would have been tempting. 

The temptation for all people is to compartmentalize our lives. It’s like saying I can watch whatever TV shows I want because it’s just entertainment.  I can act unethically because it’s just business. The problem is that having different standards and different morals in different areas leads to disintegration. Our souls fight against this.  Integrity means wholeness.  One can’t do the Jesus thing on Sundays and live wild the rest of the week without serious consequences. What it boils down to is that either someone is all in with Jesus, or they are not.  Compromise is not an option.

What do we take away from this message? In the book Discipleship on the Edge Darrell Johnson gives us 6 aspects of the picture this message presents to us.  I’d like to summarize them here.

First, in a culture that worshiped the Roman emperor as the “son of god” Jesus presents himself as the Son of God.  There are many powers in the world.  However, there is ultimately one whom people must answer to: Jesus.  We cannot give allegiance to the powers of the world and to Jesus.  Jesus is a jealous lover.

Secondly, Jesus knows our hearts, our innermost thoughts.  His eyes are of blazing fire and he searches our hearts and minds.  Hearts speaks of the moral centre of life and minds represents our total inner lives, what resides deep in our thoughts, feelings and desires.[6]  We cannot hide anything from Jesus and if we are truly in love with him we don’t want to.  He shows us truth to lead us closer to himself.

Thirdly, Jesus’ feet are like burnished bronze.  To those in the trade guilds this would have had a strong visual meaning. Jesus’ feet are strong. Powerful.  Jesus deals with evil seriously.  He will not tolerate sin.

Fourth, though Jesus takes sin seriously, he gives even Jezebel time to repent. While a person draws breath, there is a chance to repent, to turn towards Jesus.  Jesus is not unnecessarily harsh.

Fifth, Jesus will deal with each person according to their own deeds.  Jesus allows us free will to make our own choices.  We can choose to follow him or go our own way.  Following pagan idols or the ways of the world contrary to Jesus will have consequences.  On the other hand, following Jesus leads to true freedom and joy. 
​
Sixth and finally, there are incredible promises for those who remain faithful to Jesus, who endure through trials and troubles and who do not compromise their faith.  Those who last to the end will rule with Jesus.  Because they have submitted themselves to Jesus they will be given godly authority. Those who endure will receive the morning star.  The morning star is the herald of morning while the night remains dark.  Though times may seem hopeless, Jesus gives the morning star to those who remain faithful to him in order to show them that morning is coming.  If you are currently struggling, be encouraged.  Hold onto His promises and resist the urge to compromise.  Give your full allegiance to Jesus. The darkness will end. 


[1] Craig L. Blomberg, From Pentecost to Patmos: An Introduction to Acts through Revelation, pg 521
[2] Darrell Johnson, Discipleship on the Edge, pg 90
[3] Darrell Johnson, Discipleship on the Edge, pg 89. See I Kings 16:31-33
[4] Barker and Kohlenberger III eds, Expositors Bible Commentary Abridged Edition: New Testament, 1994, pg 1146
[5] Arrington and Stronstad eds, Life in the Spirit New Testament Commentary 1999, pg 1564
[6] Barker and Kohlenberger III eds, Expositors Bible Commentary Abridged Edition: New Testament, 1994, pg 1147

We are continuing a series on the 7 messages to the church in Revelation: This time we are looking at the third message, written to the church at Pergamum.[1] 

Revelation 2:12-17  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.
14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, 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.
17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.

As we have seen with the previous two messages this one follows the same pattern.  There is a personal greeting from Jesus, commendations, critiques and  conclusion.  The greeting begins: “These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.” Again we find this is relevant to the local city.  The symbol for the city of Pergamum was the sword as it was one of the few cities that Rome had granted the right to use capital punishment[2] Yet, Jesus speaks here of words, not a physical battle. The situation that the church at Pergamum was facing was a war of ideas. Essentially the message breaks down into two battles in the war of ideas.  On one front are ideas contrary to Jesus’ teaching pressuring the church from the outside.  On the other front are ideas contrary to Jesus’ teaching coming from within the church.[3] Thus, we see the battle ground laid out.  It is a battle for the mind of the people

Like in many of the other churches, the cultural situation at Pergamum was difficult. In the face of pervasive idol worship, standing up as a Christian certainly would have caused a person to stand out.  Christians faced rejection, ridicule and death. In this context it would have been tempting to accommodate outside influences that were opposed to Christ. Yet the church has remained faithful and the church is resisting overt external pressure.  Jesus commends them for this!

There are unfortunately also some negatives to address. Some people in the church are following the teachings of Balaam and the Nicolations and are participating in eating food sacrificed to idols and engaging in sexual immorality.  The Nicolatians and those following the teachings of Balaam are caught in the same error. (Rev 2:14-15). The story of Balaam is given in Numbers 22-24.  Balaam tried and was prevented from cursing the Israelites.  He turned to a more subversive method.  He plotted to have a group of Moabite women seduce the Israelites and lead them into sexual immorality and worship of the idol Baal.  Tragically, the plan worked and Israel suffered serious consequences for their error.[4]

The false message, the error of the Balaamites and Nicolatians, is that eating food sacrificed to idols is basically harmless.  Idols are just bits of wood and stone.  After all, are you not in Christ? The problem is that knowingly participating in food that was sacrificed to idols is participating in idol worship itself. It’s like watching a raunchy R rated movie and declaring that I can do so and not be affected by the content. The issue is that a physical act is never just physical.  We are also spiritual beings.  Our physical actions have spiritual implication and vice versa.[5] Flirting with idol worship is extremely dangerous because it is messing with demonic power and influence.

Secondly, the Nicolatians and those following the teachings of Balaam were saying that sexual immorality was not a big deal.  Some in the church had bought into this lie. We hear it today all the time in popular culture; sex between consenting people is natural and normal. The problem is that we are not just physical beings.  Having sex with someone is more than a physical act.  There are spiritual implications.  There are emotional implications.  It affects our soul, our whole being. The false idea is that people can have sex with anyone at any time and remain unaffected. 

In summary the church at Pergamum is carelessly tolerant of some very harmful ideas.[6] What it adds up to in Pergamum is an insidious internal influence within the church that threatens to destroy the good that is coming from their resistance to harmful external ideas. The call from Jesus is firm and obvious.  Repent!
Repent is the translation of the Greek work metanoia.  It means to change one’s mind, to turn away from sin. Both those engaging in the sinful practices and those tolerating the sinful practices need to repent, change their minds, and turn away from sin. If these is no repentance, Jesus himself will fight against these false teachings and those who hold to them[7]
​
In conclusion Jesus says “To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.”  From the Old Testament we know that manna was the miraculous provision of food that God provided for the Israelites in the desert.  God, not cultural practices, provides for humanity’s deepest needs and gives bread that sustains.  In a culture where truth is said to be relative, we need more than ever to be in tune with Jesus. If people walk with Jesus, they will see truth in his clarity. 


[1] In this series I am drawing heavily from Darrell W. Johnson’s book Discipleship on the Edge.  Most of the ideas are his and I am very grateful for his scholarship on Revelation.
[2] Darrell Johnson, Discipleship on the Edge, pg 76
[3] Darrell Johnson, Discipleship on the Edge Pg 77
[4] Expositors Bible Commentary Abridged Edition New Testament pg 1145
[5] Darrell Johnson, Discipleship on the Edge Pg 79
[6] Darrell Johnson, Discipleship on the Edge Pg 79
[7] Expositors Bible Commentary Abridged Edition New Testament pg 1145

We are continuing the series we began last week on the 7 churches of Revelation.  These 7 churches represent all churches for all time, thus the messages given are applicable to us right here and now.  We’re looking here at the second of the 7 messages , addressed to the church in Smyrna.
​
8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.
9 “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander[a] of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’
 
This message is unique among the seven messages.  In five of the other messages, Jesus has some critique of the church.  In the message to Smyrna there is no critique offered.  What makes this message different?

First, a little background on the city of Smyrna.  It was known historically as a beautiful city.  It is still in existence to this day; now known as Izmir in modern day Turkey.  It is important to note that the city was an early Roman ally and the city was absolutely dedicated to the Roman emperors.  It was inevitable that this culture in Smyrna would cause problems for people converting to Christianity. It is obvious that Jesus knows each local church and its unique situation.  For people in Smyrna the obvious power was Rome.  However, Jesus explained that he is the first and the last.  Jesus, not Rome or any other empire, country or political system is the first and the last.

Jesus says “I know your tribulation and your poverty.”  The Greek word used for tribulation here is at the heart of this message for the church of Smyrna.  The word is thlipsis.[1]  It speaks of an intense crushing pressure, as one who is trapped under a giant boulder.  The believers at Smyrna are under intense, even crushing pressure for their faith.  This is interesting because there is no word of critique offered to the church at Smyrna.  The pressure is happening not because they are doing something wrong, but because they are doing everything right. As the message continues, it is revealed that the pressure is going to get worse rather than being stopped. How could Jesus allow this?  It is precisely because the Christians at Smyrna are doing everything right.  As Revelation reveals, the physical battles we observe and feel are symptoms of the spiritual struggle going on behind the scenes.

The Christians in Smyrna are being opposed not by Rome or emperor worshippers, those are only tools in the fight, they are being opposed by Satan .“What needs to be strongly emphasized is that the disciples in Smyrna were not the ultimate target of Satan’s pressure.  The real target was Jesus.  But since he has defeated Satan at the cross and in the empty tom, Satan can no longer hurt Jesus. So the enemy goes after that which is dearest to Jesus, namely his church… The disciples at Smyrna were, therefore, not to take the pressure personally.”[2]

Jesus also knows the poverty of the Christians at Smyrna.  Smyrna was a rich city.  However, because of their stance against emperor worship, the Christians of Smyrna would have been ostracized and placed at the fringes of society.  They did not share in the material wealth present in the city because of their faith in Jesus. This is a strange thought for contemporary Christians.  God’s blessing is often associated with happiness and financial prospering. Does God not bless those he loves?  However, in Smyrna God’s blessing led to financial ruin and intense pressure being put on the Christians there. 

In this environment of pressure, it is revealed that things are going to get worse.  “do not fear what you are about to suffer.” There is an encouraging message if I ever heard one. There will be more thlipsis.  More pressure. Could it be that pressure is actually good for the church?  Historically the church thrives under persecution and dwindles in comfort.

You’ve probably heard of the concept of minimalism.  It is goal of living with a minimal amount of material goods. In most cases we use 20% of our stuff 80% of the time.  If you’ve ever embarked on a decluttering project you know that much of our material goods are fluff. This is much like the concept of what happens when believers and the church are under pressure. Faith is forced to the essentials.  The fluff is stripped away. What remains is Jesus.  He is all we need.  thlipsis forces the church to realize what is important.

Looking back on this intense message what do we do? 

“Do not fear.”  Jesus is enough.  Jesus will be with every believer. Don’t take pressure and persecution personally.  Jesus is the target, not you.  Jesus will not leave you or forsake you.

Pressure, troubles, persecution.  None of it is pleasant.  Yet, faith is built under pressure.  Faith that is not tested will not be able to stand in the face of future troubles. Faith that has been refined under pressure has been toughened and hardened.  It will not easily collapse.

Jesus is in ultimate control.  Though there will be tests, they are limited by the authority of Jesus. Stick with Jesus and you’re on the winning side every time.

And finally, in conclusion; encouragement “The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’” All people will die, some of old age, some accidentally, some through persecution.  The manner of death is not important.  What is important is our eternal destiny.  Those who are in Christ will not face the second death, or spiritual death. In the face of intense pressure believers must have an eternal focus, eyes locked on Jesus. “Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life[g] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” (Matt 16:24-26). Any sacrifices made, any pressures faced for Jesus will be worth it in the light of eternity. Keep going.  Jesus wins.


[1] Darrell Johnson, Discipleship on the Edge, pg 67, 72
[2] Darrell Johnson, Discipleship on the Edge, pg 71

We are starting a new series for the summer about the seven letters to the churches in the book of Revelation.  Let’s look at bit at the background of this series. Revelation was written around AD 96 by the Apostle John. These 7 letters in Revelation were written to actual historical churches. We may ask, why are there only 7 letters when Biblically and historically we know that there were many more than 7 churches in existence at the time of the writing of Revelation? The number 7 in the Bible and especially in Revelation means completeness.  Thus, these 7 letters are representative of all churches and the content of each letter is applicable to all churches both historically and currently. As we begin I will let you know that I am drawing heavily on a book called Discipleship on the Edge by Darrell Johnson for this series. It is a fantastic book on the book of Revelation and well worth picking up if you want to dig further into Revelation.

Let’s dive in and look at the first letter (Rev 2:1-7). 
“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.
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 favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

As the letter opens we have some strange imagery. The seven golden lampstands represent the 7 churches mentioned in these letters. The one who holds the 7 stars and walks among the seven lampstands is Jesus himself and thus it is he who is dictating these messages. He both holds the church in his hands and walks among the churches. This imagery tells us that Jesus cares deeply about the church.  Jesus is personal and he gets into what is going on in the church of Ephesus. Ephesus was a large, influential city.  It had a population of around 225,000 at this time and was the fourth largest city in the entire Roman empire.

The message opens positively. The church at Ephesus is active and productive. People are working hard for the Kingdom of God. They are persevering even in the face of challenges. This church and its members faced some very difficult cultural challenges. Ephesus was a center for worship of the god Diana and many people would come to Ephesus to worship this god. This religious tourism was a booming business. If someone became a Christian, they naturally tended to stop supporting the business that thrived on idol worship.  Sales went down, businesses lost money and people were upset. This very situation led directly to the Apostle Paul being involved in a riot in Ephesus as recorded in Acts 19:21-40. It was very likely that by not supporting the worship of the goddess Diana, that Christians in the church in Ephesus would have suffered economic losses, losses of friendships and had their reputations in the city suffer. Yet they persevered through these difficulties. They had not grown weary. This is some encouraging stuff!  However, as the message continues, we get to some bad news. 

Jesus has a problem with this church. While they are doing many things right, they have lost their passionate love for Jesus. Anyone who has been in love can probably remember those early days of love. You will do just about anything for the one you love. You will shift your priorities and change your lifestyle in order to be with the other person. It’s often similar in our faith journey. The initial passion when meeting Jesus launches us on the honeymoon phase. We are passionate.  We are in love with Jesus. We relish every opportunity to be with him. This is first love.

Then time passes…Life goes on.  The passion for Jesus seems to fade.  Day to day concerns crop up. We no longer spend the time with Jesus we used to. It seems to be a chore to read the Bible, pray and head to church. There are other things to do. Maybe work, finances, family, or any number of other things become more important in our minds and lives. Maybe we still love Jesus, but we aren’t in love with him.

This is what has happened in the church at Ephesus. If we are not careful it can happen to us. The warning is that good deeds, church programs, correct doctrine, discernment, and even perseverance are not enough in the face of the loss of love for Jesus. Christian service, volunteering, being in a leadership position; without love for Jesus it cannot be sustained. The Bible makes it clear that without a vital connection to Jesus we cannot thrive.  ““I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” (John 15:5-6)

For the Ephesians then, what is Jesus’ solution? First, “Consider how far you have fallen.” Be realistic.  Have you fallen out of love with Jesus?  The first step in addressing the problem is admitting it. Second, “Repent.” Repent for what has gone wrong in the relationship. Apologize to Jesus for the lack of relationship. Have you placed things like work, money, or achievement ahead of Jesus? Time to take action.  What are you going to do differently? Do you need to change your schedule?  Shift priorities? How do you restore intimacy in the relationship?  “do the things you did at first.” Do those things you did when you were in love. Get back to basics. Like any good relationship it takes time, dedication and work.

As we conclude this message to the Ephesians the final warning is stern.  “If you do not repent I will remove your lampstand from its place.” A church can fail. Many churches over the years have closed the doors. The warning is stern but there is hope: “To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” This is the promise of eternity spent with Jesus. There could be nothing better than an eternal relationship with Jesus. What an amazing promise.

What is the message here? Get back to basics.  Love for Jesus must come first.  It is the foundation for everything .

This time we are going to look at a very interesting passage of Scripture.  The prophet Elijah is one of the best-known characters from the Old Testament.  You might be familiar with the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal in I Kings 18.  Elijah challenges the prophets of the false god Baal to a showdown.  Elijah and the prophets of Baal will each build and altar and have a bull prepared for sacrifice.  They will then each pray and the god who answers the prayer by fire will be recognized as the true god.  The prophets of Baal pray and go through their rituals for hours.  No answer. Elijah, just to prove he hasn’t rigged the competition, has jars of water poured on his altar. Then he prays.  His sacrifice, including the bull, wood, stone, dust and even the water around the altar is consumed by fire from God. Elijah then has the false prophets arrested and executed. Immediately after this, the long drought in Israel ends. This is an astonishing story of the power and victory of God and Elijah got to be part of it all. But we’re not going to talk about that story. We’re going to talk about what happens right after that story. Let’s look at I Kings 19.

The miraculous victory over the idolatrous prophets of Baal has demonstrated God’s power. Baal is a powerless god. This victory is the type of ministry moment just about every prophet, pastor or leader would long for. You would think Elijah would be singing God’s praises with his head held high. However, the evil Queen Jezebel threatens his life and Elijah flees for his life and slips into despair. His circumstances were intimidating, and he had every right to be afraid physically. Yet, Elijah has just seen God win a major victory over hundreds of false prophets, now he is afraid of one human queen. The problem was that Elijah had shifted his view from God to his circumstances.[1] Elijah’s response is actually not uncommon in our human experience and we shouldn’t be too hard on him. It seems we are often vulnerable after a major victory or accomplishment as we have put so much time and energy into it, that we experience a significant let down after the adrenaline leaves our system.

Let’s look at what happens next.  Elijah sleeps and then an angel provides him with food and water. How many times have you experienced a situation where you are totally overwhelmed, then you have a good night’s sleep, some food and water, and you wake up refreshed and suddenly yesterday’s insurmountable problem is manageable? God provided just what Elijah needed after his emotionally and physically draining experience with the prophets of Baal. Yet Elijah’s despair ran deeper than a need for food and rest. He continues fleeing for 40 days and nights.  It is likely that he was communicating with God this whole time.  Maybe God was reminding him of his love and faithfulness. Even the greatest prophet of the OT just needed to get away for a while. Elijah is heading for Mt Sinai, the mountain where God revealed himself to Moses and the Israelites. Mt Sinai is symbolic of God’s presence and it is no accident that Elijah flees there.

Finally, after the flight of 40 days and nights Elijah arrives at Mt Sinai. As Elijah retreats into a cave God appears and asks him “What are you doing here Elijah?” (I Kgs 19:9).  Elijah expresses his complaint: “10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” (I Kgs 19:10). In other words he seems to be saying: “I have worked hard for you God, I have done what you told me to do, I’ve preached, I’ve been faithful, I’ve put my life on the line; but it seems like nothing positive is happening.  The Israelites are not responding.  In fact, they seem to be rejecting God, the prophets, and me.  Finally, an evil and maniacal Queen is trying to kill me.”  Elijah seems to be wondering: Where are the results?  Where are the good things you’ve promised?  Here I am alone and rejected.  Is this the life God offers?

God does not answer his complaint directly but instructs him to go stand on the mountain. A powerful wind, a dramatic earthquake, and a raging fire all pass by Elijah. God directs these displays of power, but his presence is not in them. Instead God reveals his presence in a whisper.

God repeats his question: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”  Elijah repeats his response.  “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” It seems like God and Elijah are at an impasse.

Finally, God responds but instead of explaining things to Elijah he gives him a to do list. Almost as an aside there are explanations for all of Elijah’s questions. The two kings he was to anoint would be God’s instruments to eradicate Baal worship in Israel.[2] Then he is to anoint Elisha to succeed him as prophet; he will not be alone, and his ministry will carry on past his own lifetime. Finally, God says, by the way, you’re not alone in Israel.  There are 7000 who remain worshippers of the true God. Elijah’s despair, while based in difficult circumstances, was not as bad as he believed and indeed, he was not alone. The devil would have us believe that we are isolated.  God says to Elijah and to us:

• My power is sufficient for today, tomorrow and for any problem
• My presence is with you
• I have a plan for your today, for your tomorrow and for events far beyond your lifetime
• You are not alone

Sometimes God does not answer in the way we want or expect, but he does answer, and he is working no matter what our perceptions may say. I think the lesson here is that God is with us in victory and despair.  In good times and in difficult times. God does not give up and based on his strength we can keep going too.


[1] Constable, T. L. (1985). 1 Kings. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 528). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[2] Barker and Kohlenberger III eds, Expositors Bible Commentary Abridged Edition: Old Testament, 1994, pg 532

Concepts are a great thing! I personally love seeing a new picture of a concept car, or gadget. The main problem with concepts though, is that they do not always become a reality. No matter how much a person believes in the concept, if it not pushed forward into production or made “real” then it stays a concept.

The Bible teaches so much about Love, what it is, what it is not, how important it is. There is a healthy chunk of the Bible that is about Loving others. We can get behind this as much as we want, understand it, believe it, even get excited about it! But if this love just stays a “concept” in our minds and is not made into a reality, then what’s the point?

In our pursuit to take love from a concept and make it a reality in our lives, there are a couple “road blocks” per se, that we need to watch out for, things that can hinder our sharing the Love that God wants us to share. 

Comparisons Can lead to pride (thinking that were are better than others), unhealthily priorities (thinking that we need to be like others to a point that we put them on a pedestal), and also Anger, resentment and jealousy, which are major blocks in loving other people!

Selfishness is another internal battle that we can struggle with. When we are being selfish we are thinking about ourselves as number one! The Bible talks in-depth bout the importance of putting others first and that acting selfLESSly is a key characteristic of Love.

What if Statements tend to stop our changes of sharing God’s love to people. We get caught up in thinking about what “might” happen. What if its awkward, uncomfortable, they get mad, others might think about me, the person I’m trying to share love with doesn’t respond well? All these are out of our control, what we can control is that we can CHOOSE to love people.

Busy Lives seem to be among the top things that get in our way to love people. We can see a need or even have a desire to love someone, but choose not to because we just don’t think that we have the tie or the resources (that we are willing to share). We need to make a decision to be intentional and loving to others. To make loving others a standard that we choose to live by. That way it won’t seem like such a bother or waste of time. 

Prayer is a major player in overcoming these roadblocks. Asking god to help us love others and share the Love that we have received from God is huge! Asking God for courage and strength to not be afraid of what others might think or how they might react. Not only is it crucial and helpful by asking God for help but by giving time to pray for the well being of others is a great way to start seeing a change of heart towards people and away from ourselves and a great step in push Love from a concept, and into a reality. 

Lastly, be encouraged that we do not have to do this all alone! God is within us and will help us! All we have to do is obey him, and let the love that is already inside of you pour out to others.
Hope you guys have a great week!​

~ Pastor Nathan Ball

​This morning as we celebrate Father’s Day I want to talk about the relationship between Jesus the son and God the Father.  I think looking at this father-son relationship will be helpful for all of us here this morning as the Bible tells us that we are all adopted as sons and daughters of God.  John 1:12-13 says “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”  The foundation for every follower of Jesus is based in what God the Father says and believes about his children

Let’s begin with Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan river as he began his ministry.  Scripture tells us: “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matt 3:16-17)

Keep in mind that Jesus has done no miracles yet, he has not preached a sermon; he has not healed anyone.  Jesus has not done anything of significance and God the father is pleased with him, because he is his son.  Jesus is fully and completely accepted by God the Father.

In our culture we often value people based on what they do, their success, skills and accomplishments   We generally must earn our credentials and have experience before we are recognized in society. Yet, God the Father does not wait until Jesus has accomplished something to give this statement. Jesus has no degrees, no credentials, no experience, a slim resume.  At this point most people would probably not hire Jesus as Messiah, let alone pastor of the local church.  In fact, a lot of people who observed Jesus personally rejected him as messiah. However, because of his relationship with his father Jesus does not have to prove anything.  Jesus ministers out of his relationship and acceptance from the Father.

Just as Jesus lived out of the Father’s acceptance, every person is accepted just as they are because God loves you.  The starting point is Jesus’ love for you, it is not determined based on your performance or achievements. We may often wonder what people think of us but we never need to wonder how Jesus feels about us.  How would your life change if you were to live out of the acceptance that you already have in Jesus, rather than trying to earn it?

Our identity is rooted in Jesus because we are created in his image. Just let the words of this passage in Ephesians sink in:

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he[b] predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he[d] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.  11 In him we were also chosen,[e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” (Eph 1:3-14)

It is easy to say we are accepted by Jesus, but harder to practice.  For myself I say, does God value me because I’m a pastor, because of what I do?  Does God value me because of who I know or who likes me? The answer is no, God does not value me because of what I do or who I know.  He values me because I am his son. What I do is important, but it does not determine my identity. My family and friends, my relationships, are important, but they do not determine my identity. My success or failure does not affect God’s view of me.  Pleasing people or not, does not affect my value in God’s eyes. As we live in the place of acceptance we can truly begin to understand what it means to follow Jesus.

Let’s continue looking at the father-son relationship between Jesus the Son and God the Father.  “Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.” (John 5:19-20). The father loves the son and their relationship is based on this love. Jesus never did anything that was not in the Father’s will and purpose.[1] If Jesus, who was fully God and fully man, did only what he saw the Father doing; I think this tells us something about how we are to live our Christian lives.

As a parent of a toddler it is amazing to see how much our daughter learns just from watching and observing us. Many times she learns something from us without us having ever intentionally taught her that thing.  She simply learns from us by living with us and observing what we do. As we live with Jesus and spend time with him, we will more and more naturally find ourselves following his lead and living out of his love and acceptance of us.

We’ve covered a lot of ground here.  If you walk away with one thing know that Jesus loves you just as you are.  You are accepted because you are a child of Jesus. As one who is accepted by Jesus you are invited into his presence to learn from him and to follow him. Just as Jesus followed God the Father, choose to follow Jesus, spend time with him, and trust him.  He will never abandon you and he will never lead you astray.


[1] Barker and Kohlenberger III eds,  Expositors Bible Commentary Abridged Edition: New Testament, 1994, pg 312