Last Sunday we started our sermon series on the Revelation to John. We discussed some of the responsible understanding of apocalyptic  genre in a prophetic/pastoral tone as God speaks through John. Getting the big picture we heard about Team Dragon (beasts, dragons and Babylonian-ish characters we encounter every day) and Team Lamb. Team Lamb is the Lamb of God with the marks of the slaughter, the 24 elders, the four witnesses in Heaven and the new Jerusalem. Team Lamb wins! But it is brutal and the influence of evil makes its way not only into the socio/political/economic structures of our lives but into the church as well.

That’s why God addresses these seven churches whose reasons for commendation and condemnation are as true today as they were then. In taking a brief look at a threefold pattern, John employs to address these churches we see :

affirmation

correction

motivation of the Spirit of God

Eugene Peterson contends, “ a random selection of seven churches in any century, including our own, would turn up something like these seven churches addressed in Revelation.” The main point of Revelation 2-3, when heard faithfully today, is to listen for the Spirit of God identifying ASD’s peculiar unholy spirit offering us the presence and grace of Christ to transform us into a more faithful people of God.

For example, many would say we in Dallas and the West are much like the church in Laodicea, Revelation 3:14-22. We are Christians living in a wealthy society. Laodicea was a wealthy community as reflected in its financial, manufacturing and medical institutions. The materialism of the city had rubbed off on the church with disastrous results. How do we resist the same thing happening to us as it did to them? What are the warning signs? Other signs to watch for are the seductions to idolatry which John calls “spiritual fornication and adultery ” What kind of honest conversations are we having with the scriptures, with God, with each other? Are we lukewarn? Have we lost our first love? Are we living in the Spirit as John exhorts each of these churches?

On the other hand, there is much to commend in most of these churches, except Laodicea. We will look at these commendations as well. Jesus is here at ASD, at other faithful and faith filled gospel churches in Dallas. . He is in the midst of seven lamp stands which are the churches. What is He saying to us?

Come and See

+Philip