Jesus knows His CHURCH. Jesus knows our CONDITION. Jesus knows our NEEDS. Come CLOSE to the water SOURCE. Close to the HEART of God. Close to the WORD of God. Close to the COMMANDS of God.
It doesn't take great SIZE or STRENGTH to make a great IMPACT for His kingdom. 3 Promises Jesus made to this church: A promised OPPORTUNITY. A promised PROTECTION. A promised FUTURE. What will you do when Jesus places an OPEN DOOR before you? Demonstrate a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP. Demonstrate a WILLING WITNESS. Demonstrate an UNSHAKABLE STRENGTH.
Revelation 3:1-6 When your REPUTATION doesn't match your REALITY that means it's time for a WAKE UP call! What does it mean to WAKE UP? Be ALERT and STRENGTHEN what remains. REMEMBER and REPENT. Jesus will always keep His PROMISES. The DECISIONS you make TODAY determines the STORIES you tell TOMORROW.
Revelation 2:18-29 Jesus CELEBRATES the POSITIVES of the church. Jesus CHALLENGES the NEGATIVES in the church. Jesus COMMUNICATES the SOLUTIONS for the church.
Jesus commended the church for being a DEVOTED church. Jesus criticized he church for its COMPROMISE. They compromised through IDOLATRY and IMMORALITY. What Satan can't affect from the OUTSIDE, he attacks from the INSIDE. Jesus corrected the church by calling them to REPENT. Repent means to CHANGE. Jesus comforts the church with His PROMISES. HIDDEN MANNA, WHITE STONE, NEW NAME. You may SAY what you PROFESS, but you LIVE what you truly BELIEVE. What are your NON-NEGOTIABLES? What is God SAYING to YOU through this? What are YOU going to DO about it?
Se7en: The Churches of Revelation Revelation 2:8-11 This letter addresses the problems that church in Smyrna had: The problem of POVERTY. The problem of PERSECUTION. The problem of PRISON. The pressure you face can DESTROY you or DEVELOP you. Jesus encourages us to be FEARLESS. Be FAITHFUL.
Se7en: The Churches of Revelation. Revelation 2:1-7 CSB This series should do two things: OVERWHELM you and ENCOURAGE you. Jesus addresses the 7 churches systematically by giving them COMMENDATION, CRITICISM, and CORRECTION. Jesus commended them for their LABOR and ENDURANCE, INTOLERANCE, of evil, and PERSEVERANCE in hardship. Jesus criticized them because they had ABANDONED the LOVE they had at FIRST. Jesus corrected them by challenging them to REMEMBER, REPENT, and RETURN. What keeps you CLOSE to the HEART of God? Find that thing and KEEP DOING IT.