Following Jesus 86

Today, we again come to this time for biblical content, Christ-centered content, logical content, and content resulting in obedience to God.  
 
Let’s begin looking at seven churches. These churches are found in Revelation 2-3. They are seven churches like the one you and I attend and are a part of. Then again, perhaps not! Let us take a look. We begin with the Church at Ephesus, Revelation 2:1-7. 
 
Where and how does a church excel in the sight of God? Verses 1-3 and verse 6 gives the reader of the text a clear understanding of what God says is an excellent church. 
 
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. “Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.”
 
Jesus Christ is doing the speaking (Revelation 1:17-20). Jesus commands the Apostle John to do the writing. The recipient is not only the church in the City of Ephesus but also its angel. Who is this angel in the Ephesian church, and for that matter in the remaining six churches? It is very likely these angels are respectively the seven pastors of the seven churches. They are the churches messengers. They are in a real way God’s messengers. 
 
What or who are the lampstands? Revelation 1:20 identifies the lampstands as being nothing other than the seven churches. It is this church that Jesus says He not only holds or upholds and controls its pastor, but He also is present among and within the church body; its participants and members. Jesus knows this church as He knows His church today: both universally and locally. 
 
 
 

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