Text:
Revelation 1:1-end
Scriptural
References: Gen 3:9 II Corinth 5:10 Matt 5:15
1
Thess 1:3 Matt 25:33-46 Matt 26:8
Matt
10:22 Isaiah 6:9 Acts 28:26
COMMON STRUCTURES IN THE LETTERS TO
THE SEVEN CHURCHES
Last
week, we extensively started the introduction of the letters to the seven
Churches. Today, emphasis will be placed on the common structures to the seven
churches. These structures are:
1.
Address 2. Attributes 3. Approval
4.
Accusation 5. Advice 6. Assurance
5.
Appeal
Address
Address
is a place where a person or organization can be found so as to be communicated
to. In life you must have an address and this address must be the one God has
given you. In Genesis 3:9, God called out to Adam asking “where art thou”. God
was not looking for Adam because He didn’t know where Adam was, God was looking
for Adam because he was not where God placed him.
Most times, in our walk with God, we tend to be the one dictating the pace; we tend to decide how we want to serve God, and where we want to be. But we cannot enjoy God that way; we cannot be the one dictating to God and expect to enjoy His blessings. When you are in the wrong address, it will be difficult for you to hear the voice of God and receive His directions for your life.
Has
God placed you where you can minister to Him in songs, or has He placed you to
be a teacher of the Word; has He placed you to be a gospel writer; has He
placed you to be an intercessor? Wherever God has placed you, remain there for
it is only in that place that you can enjoy His blessings.
Attributes
In
the letters to the seven churches, Jesus did not introduce Himself directly
with His name. He used an aspect of His character to introduce Himself and in
each of the letters, the attribute He used to introduce Himself varied. This
tells us that there was something unique about every church and the aspect of
character He emphasized indicated what that Church needed to consider and what
they had the tendency to forget.
Some key lessons we can learn from
these are:
1.
We must all have
a personal revelation of God. This revelation cannot be gotten from Newspaper
publications, rumours or hearsays but can only be gotten through a personal
encounter with God.
2.
There is no basis
for rivalry, comparison or competition. There is something unique to everyone.
We have all been given different assignments, which we are supposed to
accomplish in different terrains as such there is no basis for comparison.
3.
What God reveals
to us points to what He will judge. Thus our attention must not be on others or
what they have achieved. Rather, our attention should be on what God has
revealed to us personally because this is what He will use to judge us.
4.
There is what is
common to us but there is something that is unique to each and every one of us.
We must be able to differentiate between these and apply them to our lives
accordingly.
Approval
God is totally aware of both our internal and external
state. His judgment is always honest and just. God does not operate based on
hearsay or what He thinks; He operates based on what He knows. That is why in
the letters, He will always say, “I know
thy works”. This means that God is taking note of all actions, activities
and even thoughts.
The
works of our hands begin counting to God after we have become born again. Thus,
as Christians, what we are doing or not doing counts before God as we see in II
Corinthians 5:10. It is our works that God will approve so the question is, how
are you living your life? Can God look at the things you are doing and approve
of them?
In Matthew 25:33-46; God used a
story to emphasize the need for us to be hospitable, caring, show concern for
one another and identify with each other. Life is a sacrifice and from the
story in the above scripture, we can deduce that God is watching and marking
all our actions and He will reward us both in the now and in the time to come.
Accusation
In as much as God commended the
Churches, He also accused them of their wrong doings. But of all the churches,
there were two churches that God had nothing against. This means that with God
everything is possible. Many believe that we cannot live a life void of flaws;
some think that there must always be a sin attached to us that God can use
against us. But from the letters to the churches, we see that two churches were
void of accusation from God. This means that you can overcome whatever habit or
sin you are struggling with and come to that point where God can say, I have
nothing against you my child.
Advice
In the letters, we also see that God
gave every one of the churches advice. Anybody that finds it difficult taking
the advice or counsel of God is causing harm to himself. What advice is God
giving you; what has He been telling you to do that you have not done; which
word has He given you that you are yet to obey? Please take heed to obey for it
is only that way you can be blessed.
Assurance
After every advice, God gave
assurances of things He will do when they take His advice. In our lives, we can
only enjoy God’s blessing when we follow His instructions. You cannot be living
contrary to the way God has instructed and expect Him to pour out His blessings
upon you. Even if He does that, there is a very high tendency for you to misuse
the blessings. So if we want to enjoy God’s supernatural blessings and favour,
we must be ready to listen to His advice and instructions which may come in
different ways especially the one He tells us personally.
Appeal
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