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January 6, 2016 9:13 pm
Hello world. Welcome to the voice of power broadcast on your host Gary actives so excited. So glad that you two did with me today and I should assure you that God will richly bless you we are going to pick up in Revelation chapter 2 we left off. Chapter 1 the last broadcast. I'm so excited about jumping to Rome to be getting into the seven churches of Asia monitor which the Lord inspired the writings to John the regulator to reveal to these churches. What thus saith the Lord of a prophetic word in season for the people of God of that day. Now remember were left off. Revelation chapter 1, we see where John is on the Isle of Patmos. John the disciple John the beloved disciple that Jesus love the: John, the regulator, it was only out of Patmos.
He was put there to diet was an island where they would mind rocking the work day and night and they were put there to die in order to try to kill them once, but taught Achille a man who's already been given his life to Christ and Christ had a call upon his life in Christ had a mission for him and Christ had a purpose for him and that purpose was going to be completed and fulfilled in the name of Jesus and Jesus preserved him in Jesus revealed himself to him and Revelation chapter 1 John said he was called up in the spirit and he had a vision of Jesus Christ IN all of his glory and his power and at what I should say all but but but in his glory and his power. He was revealed to John the river later and he revealed to him that there were seven churches received the representation in the golden lampstand of Revelation chapter 1 that John season he sees Jesus in the middle of these lampstands in the seven stars of these that were above these lampstands were the angels to the seven churches to which John is prophesying to them. So let's get right into it showing Revelation chapter 2. If you have a Bible.
If you don't, and you're listening to broadcast will have means to grab a Bible than just sit there and listen to the Marie.
Revelation chapter 2 verse one will be getting there just a moment, almost understand that the church of Jesus Christ was found on the testimony of his personal deity and that in Matthew 1619. When Jesus asked his disciples, and he asked Peter he said who do men say that I am in a circle. Some say that your Isaiah some signature Jeremiah 1 of the prophets in Jesus enough who do you say that I am happy to answer companies that thou art the Christ must, son of the living God, and Jesus told Peter that flesh and blood had not revealed this revelation to him, but that it was the spirit of God that revealed this Revelation to Peter hallelujah and many believe you know that that that Christ was talking about Peter when he said upon this rock I will build my church.
It wasn't Peter himself, but it was rather the revelation in the testimony that Peter had under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. That's what the church is built upon Christ, the son of the living God. I believe Jesus when he said that the Peter I believe he was pointing at himself. I believe he was pointing at himself and said upon this rock. The rock of Christ. He will build his church and the gates of hell shall not rail against now having established that courses of the gates of hell shall not prevail against. He did speak prophetically of the future destiny of the church because he intended to see to it personally that the church he established would be protected. They meant nowhere is this seen more clearly than in John's heavenly vision which we have already examined in chapter 1 portraying Christ walking among the lampstands or the church is rather shining forth of the lights that they received from him to a lost world floundering in dock snap chapters 2 through four of Revelation give the message of Christ to the seven churches of Asia and go beyond them to the church, which shall be here after I think about that are Christ's divine commendation is complaint is counsel and challenge are just as vital today as they were in the day they were written and we examine each of the seven churches we will establish four distinct interpretations and also the for what I call the four C's of Christ.
That's commendation. That's the complaint he had told the Council that he gave up and the challenge that he gave these churches and the challenges that he gives the church in our day. So let us go over the four interpretations real quick of the seven literal churches that John the reveler is prophesying to under the power of God. Of the four interpretations of one of these were conditions that existed in these churches. At the time of this writing.
In other words, these were seven literal churches in these conditions apply to them in the very way that they were prophesied by John the reveler. I believe that I believe that that is true. I believe that student of these were seven literal churches and that the problems that they were facing the challenges the complaints that Christ had toward the work for them for that date and I believe that is the truth.
Secondly, that the conditions of these churches examine various kinds of churches in our day out. I believe that could be true as well. I believe it churches to go through many stages churches can go through stages when there when they're on fire. Churches conductor stage is whether with or growing in their vibrant and their jubilant and then you come a few years later and and they're just totally different. There other bed. They're doubly dead, put up by the roots of some would say they are. They are cast away. They have they have given up on praise and worship plate. They're not as exuberant and enjoyable as they were before us. I believe that that could be droplet. That's the point of Revelation here in chapter 2 and three minutes talking about these churches, but that's just one of the views and thirdly Satan's that Satan's spiritual attack upon the church believe that Satan attacks the church in many different ways. I believe this to be true as well. However, fourthly, and lastly I want us to look at this. The historical account of the church age is what is represented by these churches.
In other words, the first church, the church of Ephesus and Revelation 2 represents that time.
And that the next church represents the next 300 years in world history and Christianity and and so forth. I believe there's some truth to that, I believe there some type and shadow there but on the floor that I just mentioned to you of interpretations of these churches I want us to focus on two other. The first one and that is that these are conditions that existed in these churches. At the time of the writing. I believe that there were little churches. I believe that they were going through these issues literally and fourthly of the historical account account of the church age, I believe they represent periods of time within the church. Of course, the last church being the church of Laodicea which was lukewarm had fallen away. I believe that the church will see a great falling away in the last day of the day in which we live as a matter of fact. However, I believe that there is a remnant God always has a written density always has arraignment. People who are willing to give up everything for the calls of Christ and for the power of God had to see the supernatural manifestation of God all around them and I will be one of those people and I know you do to let us be a part of that written the church that written believers who Christ will pour out his Spirit upon all flesh who are part of his written make that decision today to be a part of his written moving on.
Almost also focus on what I call the four C's of Christ concerning the seven churches. He commends them. The company has a complaint toward the and he counsels them and he also challenges these churches remember that commendation complaint counsel and challenge right so let's get started the church, the first children born to look at here in Revelation chapter 2 is the church of Ephesus. Now we have to remember that Ephesus was located a few miles inland form.
Well, let's see, a few miles inland from the agency. It was the case to River silt has what they call sealed has long since feel that harbor to this present day in the city of Ephesus had one of the seven wonders of the world you know that I was the Temple of Artemis, which is Diana to the Romans. In other words, it was the Temple of Diana, and it was considered by many to be the most amazing of the seven wonders of the world, and the worship of Artemis included shameless and vile practices such as prostitution and mutilation in the rituals that they performed in this temple and the temple in the city were destroyed and 252 A.D. I believe Paul actually dealt with some of this in his day when he was writing to Ephesus and when he was ministering in his missionary journeys. The Temple of Diana and the things they were doing that were so vile that he had to bring out to the church to protect themselves and to cover themselves in prayer and believe that God was was with them and they were with him seated in heavenly places with Christ or something to keep in mind that Revelation to verse one end to the angel of the church of Ephesus write these things says he who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands. Now the person identified here is Christ. Remember that verse two.
I know your works, says the Lord. I know your labor, your patients, and that you cannot bear those who are evil and you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars how you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for my name's sake and have not become weary. Verse four nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Wow, that's powerful is they had left her first love, who was our first love. Well, our first love 11 is the lover of our souls. Christ the Lord. He loves us so much and nothing shall separate us from the love of God. In fact, the Bible says in the prophet Jeremiah when he declared that all loves us with an everlasting love. It's a love that will never fade away. It's a love that will never go there like nothing shall separate you from the love of God but Ephesus. The church had left their first love verse five remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place unless you repent this you have, that you hate the deed to the Nicollet in which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches through him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Now notice he said you have left your first love. And he says repent. He says that very strongly in this passage you every great revival that has ever hit the great soil of America in a great revival that has spread across this world has started with repentance, repent ye therefore been converted. The Bible says that your sins may be blotted out for times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord, my friend, if you want to be refreshed in Christ, if you want a fresh anointing if you want fresh oil in your life. My friend, it is time to repent, so I haven't done anything with the simple attitude like that is doing something you have to live in a perpetual state of the repentance of a virtual state repenting and confessing before Carl that you need his saving power because we need his grace we need his grace on a daily basis when it is great stuff to sustain us and to strengthen us and keep us under hope was over quickly before interpretations that could be placed upon the church of Ephesus on the conditions that existed in these churches of the time of the writing which I went over, which is a literal interpretation. I believe it.
Ephesus was a literal church that John literally gave this word to this is a problem that they literally had these were conditions that examine various kinds of churches in our day and the church of Ephesus can be related to churches of our day and that they were churches that were car, they do not tolerate sin but have left their first love you churches like that there busybodies they run to and fro there doing cookouts and yard sales and are having scenes and events in this back together but there's really no growth because they have left their first love. They have left the deep roots of God's word and they tried to establish ministry upon themselves and I think of a Teutons of busy that there doing ministry but that's not necessarily the case.
You're not doing ministry unless you are following the leading of the Spirit. That's why God told them in the wilderness is when you see this pillar of cloud by day moving when you see the fire by night takeoff.
That's when you are to follow me.
He never said that you go and I'll follow you.
He says you have to follow me, my friend. It's time we get back to following him and let's realize that our ministry comes by following in establishing ourselves in Christ, but they left their first love fairly Satan, spiritual attack upon the church as was represented here Satan deters and distracts us from our original vision plan. We are still working hard and we are still sincere, but we are sincerely wrong. I hate to say that could be the case as far as an interpretation for the church� But I believe we need to focus on this historical account of the church age.
I believe this represents the apostolic Church of A.D. 32 A.D. 100 roughly Ephesus was a capital city where Ephesus means desirable. The church is described as an evangelistic church that covers the period of time when most of the apostles died and the gospel was left to Christians who never met Christ.
It was the second generation of Christianity in a spiritual sense. In other words the apostle throughout the known world, and they evangelized during the time of the church of Ephesus here and and and they may one converts to Christ. People were baptized in the spirit people were healed and delivered by God's power and then all the apostles are Sue Martin and killed all the troop fervent believers were were martyred for the cause of Christ and are trying to kill John the river later as well and what you see here is another generation coming up who have not heard or seen the power of God, like in the day were living today generation coming up in this country who hasn't seen the power of Almighty God and the power of the spirit.
I believe that's what was happening and happening in Ephesus. This church was as a whole.
Not every individual I don't believe as a whole.
They had left their first love.
They had walked away from from from their their long delivery of their souls and that he was going to do ministry through them and fill them to perform signs and wonders and confirm the gospel of Jesus Christ. Now let's look at the four C's of Christ to the church of Ephesus number one.
The commands that this is I know thy works, and by labor by patients and how thou canst not bear them which are evil and has tried them which say they are apostles and are not has found them liars and has borne and has patients for my name's sake.
Thou hast labored, and hast not fainted as the deeds of the Nicollet items which I also hates her is commending them for hating evil. He's commending them for not allowing sins operate amongst the body of Christ is commending them for not allowing evil and false doctrine, and in every everyone wind of doctrine to blow the people away that they were not allowing visit. He commends them for but then he has a complaint. This is a hostile left side first love and then he counsels the visas, remember from where you are. Follow and repent. Then he challenges them and he says to him, been overcome with will I give to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God hallelujah isn't that wonderful.
That's a message for the backslider if you left your first love. Remember from where you are fallen, and repent and come back to Jesus Christ and you shall stand in the midst of the paradise of God and eat from the tree of life.
Now the key in these verses pertaining to the church and Ephesus is found in the expression thou has left by first love. I don't sound like I keep repeating myself. We need understand the problem in Ephesus, Christ goes on to say that they are to remember from whence they are fallen, and repent and do the first works that do the first works for he would come quickly and remove the candlestick out of his place. They had left their first love. Many Christians have done this today, and this was the situation when Jesus said he had somewhat against them, and of Jesus must come first.
All those who are listening to this broadcast Christ should be the center of everything you do churches cry should be the center of every ministry that you have every ministry, not faith, not healing, not the fruit of the spirit, but Christ and when Christ is the center that all those other things in a fall right in the place healing restoration.
The fruit of the spirit, the gifts of the spirit.
They will operate and function when you lift up the name of the Lord Jesus Christ Pl. them at the center of everything that you do not and, of course, they say of the Lord says that if you put him first that you have a promise you will be given to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God now wants to look at this this Nicollet optimism that is mentioned here in the church of Ephesus because he said you have cases I recommend you because you hate the deeds of the Nicollet items with who were the Nicollet items was Nicollet of one more subject in the letter to the church of Ephesus that needs consideration for its basic conditions in our present day because it enters verse six but this thou hast, that they'll hate us the deeds of the Nicollet is let Nicollet items which I also hate what is Nicollet things they have been variously identified with to make the best explanation lies in the meaning of the word itself Nicollet.
It comes from the root word Macao which means to conquer and layouts, which means people in other words, to conquer people. It is from Laos. We get our word laity as well. In the name refers to people who try to control the people of God by abusing their God-given talents and influences to exalt themselves ever seen anybody like that in the church. Other manipulate people to use people that exploit people that they may receive glory and honor amongst themselves. All I care about is a position or being established as as as a leader or or having a title heading title gives them some importance, my friend.
That's the doctrine of the Nicollet. It they wanted to control the people and conquer the people. Now it is not wrong for special gifted men to be found in the church is Dr. Merrill God has placed in there and thank God for them. Thank God for the fivefold ministry of apostles and prophets, evangelist teachers and pastors please taught for the fivefold ministry to buy believers men who operate in the fivefold ministry.
I believe they can do all of that by the gifting of the power of the Holy Spirit that we have noted on previous occasions here in the studies that God gave some possible some profits and some evangelists, some pastors and some teachers for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry.
Ephesians 4 11,000 God told some of his servants to full-time teaching Sunday full-time preaching and leadership in various ways in order to train his people to do his work, but this scene of Nicollet attendance has some laid hold of many Christians down through the centuries that a wrong place was open. There leaders, and today, many Christians relegates soul winning to the past own and perhaps to some evangelists, but God's plan is that every member of the body of Christ should be a witness.
God hates this fostered music division among his people. He commended the Ephesians 4 also hating. I encourage you. Beware of those around. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the gift of discernment so you can discern who is amongst you so that you can discern without any false prophets know God's word so you can be aware of what people are teaching and preaching in your pulpits are the church of Smyrna. In verse eight of Revelation to the angel of the church in Smyrna write these things says the first and the last, who was dead and who came to life. 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. Verse 10 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 notice that it's very specific. Be faithful until death, I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what this. Says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death not the name Smyrna comes from the root word Merck the fragrant perfume used in the burial of the dead. The church in Smyrna was a much persecuted church in a wealthy city that had little time for Christians. The city itself found that about three centuries before Christ was a well-planned accomplishment of the only Alexander the great, the commercial center of Asia minor was what it was. It was on the direct trade route from India to Persia to roll and the large variety of coins found by archaeologists in the city clearly indicates that it was a wealthy city. Think about that and the Jewish segment of the population seems to have been most irreligious and neglectful of spiritual things few specific details are known of the history of Smyrna or of the church of Smyrna. Other than that which is given here in the book of Revelation can be safely assumed, however, that it was a most faithful church in the face of persecution. From what we read from the account here in Scripture. The known characteristics of the conditions in the church at Smyrna indicates that the judgment seat of Christ, we would feel this church to be one of the most outstanding local bodies of believers in all of church history. Let's start off with four interpretations that these were conditions that existed in these churches of the time of the writing a literal interpretation which I believe it was certainly the conditions that examine various kinds of churches in our day. That would be churches that are poor, but rich in spirit who suffer persecution. I don't churches like that Satan's spiritual attack.
Thirdly, upon the church slander Satan is the accuser of the brethren. We know that fear persecution are there any persecuted church about Italian you might not see many in America but you'll see them all around the world. If you did Asia, there are churches in the underground in a basement secretly so that they're not damned for believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. Think about all of us to concentrate on the historical account of the churches representing the church of Smyrna here and that is the persecuted church around the year 100 A.D. to around the year 312, roughly A.D. some persecutions of this age as predicted by the Lord himself. In verse 10 is it you shall have tribulation 10 days. And of course this church eight cell eight of the 10 periods of persecution under the Roman emperors now believe X something worth looking at. Notice that A.D. 54 to 68, payroll is beheaded. Peter is crucified in his history tells us that he was crucified upside down upon the cross, and this is under that madman, the maniac of murder himself, Nero then there was the mission after him 81 to 9680 exile John the Bialik patents under the list goes on and on. Justin Martyr was killed and monitored during this time Ignatius was burned at the stake around one 1780 all the way down to Diocletian, the Roman Emperor from about two 8480 to 305 Diocletian is considered the worst Emperor in Rome's history and the greatest antagonist of the Christian faith.
He led a violent attempts to destroy the Bible from the face of the earth under his leadership. Many Roman cities at public burnings of the sacred Scriptures was an evil man quickly. Let's look at the four seasons of Christ's reported I want to explain further that I believe that the third, the historical representation of the church of Smyrna was definitely that I believe that they represented the persecuted church there were many Christians and believers were martyred during that time.
Which I mentioned under these Roman emperors but also believe that it was literally a church. The church of Smyrna that the Lord was revealing himself to support the Pharisees of Christ's commendation commends the visas in verse nine I know thy works, and tribulations and poverty, but thou art rich and you can say the converse of that there are some in this world who are rich with money, but poor as poor gets because they don't have the Lord Jesus Christ not reminded of Matthew 16 in verse 26, one Jesus and what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet loses his own soul and what shall a man give in exchange for his soul. Think about then Christ has a complaint toward him and you know what it was. Not one word. This was one of the church is the church of Smyrna that didn't have a complaint toward like the others.
Christ was proud of it amended there's no review given by the Lord to discharge. Obviously the fires of persecution had a purifying effect on the church vote through the persecution they had material poverty. Yet they were rich in faith.
Praise God. When persecution comes to the church that I'll be the time that the church prospers the great a lot of people talk about the persecution in America how it's coming up on the church and it's a day of doom and gloom, but I believe it's a day of Revelation. I believe it's a day of power believe that the church shall stand in any date shall be in the date of persecution.
We shall rise to the forefront and let our light shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our God who is in heaven. My friend here.
What I'm saying in this broadcast today. Persecution may come to the church of Jesus Christ, but we need not fear. We need not worry because he can tell us up on the wings of Eagles, and he can make us around and not be weary well cannot fight as the Bible says in Daniel about Daniel and his buddies.
He said they did great exploits in battle. Babylon may come to America and if it does so. Because we as the people of God we have the authority of Jesus Christ and we can walk through the earth had put should declare the gospel with power with signs following. We shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
We shall speak with new tongues, we shall take up devils and they shall by no means hurt us because we have power to try and about serpents and scorpions, and upon all the powers of the devil. My God, I feel his presence in this broadcast studio Kelly I feel strongly that we shall rise to the occasion. Just like the church of Smyrna in the time of persecution is what counsel Christ gives them this is for a lot of these things because you shall suffer but be faithful unto death, be faithful, and he challenges the visas even over, shall not be hurt of the second death. The second death is the lake of fire. The great white throne judgment with all those who never accepted or believed in the Lord Jesus Christ shall be judged by God himself and every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the father.
That is the second death.
And if you haven't accepted him by faith and her name is not in the book of remembrance, that you shall be cast into the lake of fire. It's a fact. That's the second death raises a few of the company shall not be heart by the second death you shop right and wrong with me. The Lord says running out of time, but the Smyrna. Of the church history was the Smyrna. Of church history was probably the greatest time of persecution. The church of Christ has ever known, Satan unleashed a violent attack on the church in an effort to obliterate it became evident to him that the apostolic church because of its faithful preaching of the gospel had become a serious threat to his worldwide godless Empire that he was unsuccessful in his attempt in this attempt is easily seen in a study of church history for God, overruled, and Satan learned a valuable lesson. The more he persecuted the church that you hear me during this period, the more the church overcame the one containing characteristic of the apostolic age and that was having left its first love like about mightily the first love the church of Smyrna.
Why because they were persecuted toward but had nobody to run to nobody to call upon, but Christ himself.
I could be you like to be made like to be this world that could be America who can we run to.
Can we look to in the time of rubble and the answer is the very present help in the time of trouble Jehovah should have all the Lord is there during the second third centuries. This persecution that the church of Smyrna had seen in this this age of history in the church history had seen saw hundreds of Christians brought into the amphitheaters of Rome to be fed to hungry lions like while thousands of spectators cheered Richard on about many were crucified, others were covered with animal skins and tortured to death by wild ball.
They were covered with tar and set on fire to serve as torches. They were bold in oil, as was John the reveler and burned at the stake Polycarp in the city of Smyrna itself and 8156 I read this was was actually martyred this way it was put into a pot of boiling oil.
One of the great martyrs of Jesus Christ. One church historian has estimated that during this period, 5 million Christians were martyred for the testimony of Jesus Christ and the Lord promised that the overcome is in this situation would be given a clown of life. My friend were out of time. I want you to understand something I will pick up in Revelation 2 and verse 12 in the church of Pergamum's and will try to get the Revelation 3 on the next broadcast block want you to understand the church of Ephesus, Christ revealed himself to them. He says you have left me I'm your first love. I am the one who called you out of the minor Rick holy and set your feet upon a rock and established you're going places. I am the one who fell in love with you on reminded of the words of the Bible. First John four it says he's in love is not North not God, for God is love. It's not an attribute of God is not a characteristic it's not a name of God love his career sees the very essence of his love. He loves you today only your first love.
And if you have come back to him come back to him with excitement and with joy because he is ready to receive with open arms. The church of Smyrna who was persecuted. Many were martyred for the name of Jesus Christ because they were willing to lay down their lives. What if that happened in America. What if that happened today. What if I told you that you had to deny the Lord Jesus or you would be killed. What would you say what would you say at the face of death would you acknowledge him as Savior. Would you bow down cowardly Cedar and rechecked him, but I've got news for you.
If you reject him here.
He will reject you before the angels of heaven, but if you accept him, he will rejoice with the angels of heaven, because you have been converted to him and regenerated and empowered by Jesus Christ to let us learn something from these churches. Let us understand as the body of Christ. That persecution may come but we can rise to the forefront and do great exports of the power of God is within us. Praise be to his name Hargitay. I could go on for hours because I know that the power of the spirit resides and abides in us is the body of Christ, and we can accomplish anything in the name of Jesus I want to thank you for joining in on this broadcast for tuning in with me today for Revelation chapter 2 chapter 3 is coming on the next broadcast will finish objected to as well, picking up at verse 12 talk about the church of Pergamum's now all thank you for all the prayers.
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Selected and support the work of God support the gospel going around the work and the power of God manifested in our life positively. God heals the sick. I still believe God sets men and women free from addiction. I still believe God can save the other most to the cutter. Most, I believe he can reach one hand, and the glory and one hand into the gutter and bring the two together for a cataclysmic explosion and you know what he uses you to do that. He uses the church to do that very thing to reach into the gutter to reach into the glory and be the mediator in Christ Jesus, the man Christ Jesus to bring men and women to God that could be you like to be me's apartment with agree with me that the gospel shall go around the world and until next time. This is the force of power and the just shall live by faith