The Reporter     Volume 45 # 39,  --  September 30, 2005

 

Letters To The Churches

– Revelation Two –

  The letters to the seven churches are very similar in the way they are designed. The letter is addressed to a certain church, like Ephesus or Smyrna. The letters include some introductory statements about Jesus like, "These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks."

 

   The letters also contained a statement concerning the spiritual condition of the church like, "I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted."  After the condition of the church is stated Jesus gave His verdict of the situation like, "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love."

 

   Each of the letters contained a command from Jesus to the church like, "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works." In most of the letters there were statements of commendation like, "But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate."

 

   Each letter closed with an exhortation to all Christians, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." There was also a promised reward to all who would obey, "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." A careful study of these seven letters is of great benefit to children of God.

 

Letter to the church of Ephesus – Revelation 2:1-7: The angle of the church is the messenger or preacher who would deliver the message. Paul had live and worked in Ephesus for three years. (Acts 20:31) Ephesus was the city where Aquilla, Priscilla, and Apollos labored. (Acts 18:24-28) It was a city where Timothy had labored. (I Timothy 1:3) This was a place of great privilege. They had heard great preaching.

 

   Ephesus was also a stronghold of Satan. The temple of Diana and other pagan temples were located there. (Acts 19:28) In a city where God's authority was not respected Jesus described Himself as one with great power, "These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks." The sobering truth is that Jesus looked at His church in Ephesus and knew what was going on with them. He knew that they needed to repent! He also knew of all the good the church had done. "I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not..."

 

   The church at Ephesus was a working church that was doctrinally pure. However, they had left their love for God or for the brethren. God called on this church to "Remember" and "Repent" and promised great blessings if they did. He said, "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."

 

Letter to the church in Smyrna – Revelation 2:8-11: In that day Smyrna was a beautiful and proud city. It was a center of learning and culture. To this church Jesus described Himself as, "the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive." What a joy it is to be reminded that we serve the risen Lord.

 

   Smyrna was a very rich city, but because of persecution the Christians were very poor. Jesus knew the abuse these Christians endured at the hands of others. He expressed His thoughts concerning these brethren in the words, "but thou art rich." They lived in poverty, but they were truly rich.

 

   God wanted the church at Smyrna to stand strong under the tests that would come. He said, "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." (Revelation 2:10) Jesus has no rebuke for these brethren, but He does have the promise of a crown.

 

   Letter to the church in Pergamos – Revelation 2:12-17: Pergamos was a noted Roman city. It was a center for culture and education. It had one of the great libraries of the ancient world. Jesus described Himself to this church as "He which hath the sharp sword with two edges." This sounds very much like Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

 

   Jesus knew that these brethren lived in a place of terrible persecution yet they had not denied the Lord. There "Antipas" was described as "my faithful martyr." He is one of the great anonymous heroes of the Bible. There are many who just live, serve, and died quietly for the Lord who are truly heroes!

 

   Even though their situation was very difficult it did not excuse the fact that they had tolerated some false teachers. Jesus said, "I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate."

 

   The promise to these brethren was, "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it."

 

   Letter to the church in Thyatira – Revelation 2:18-29: Thyatira was the smallest of all the cities to whom letters were written. Jesus said of them, "I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first."

 

   Despite all the good in this church they had allowed one that Jesus identified with the title "Jezebel" to bring corruption to some. She was an immoral and ungodly influence on others. Her sins had been tolerated. It is sad but sin is often tolerated in the church even today.

 

   Perhaps the greatest challenge Jesus gave was simply this, "hold fast till I come."

 

   The gospel is God's great news that Jesus died for sinners. Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." (Mark 16:16). Faith and trust in Christ's death for our sins must include baptism into His death. Will you accept God's wonderful news that Jesus died for your sins and be baptized into Christ to put on Christ so that all your sins will be forgiven in His death?

- - - - Charles Box

News & Notes

 

1. Prayer List: Baptist Medical Center East: Dorothy Windham. In Need Of Prayers: Bill Autrey, Lorene Beverly, Al Brannon, Charlie Brown, Gene Buck, Allen Croley, Herman Croley, Nell Davis, Carolyn Duncan, Betty Findley, Ethel Gafford, Norma Gafford, Terry Gafford (to get a pace maker soon), Chance Goodwin, Roy Goodwin, Tina Goodwin, Ramona Gravely, Ron Green, Evan Hartsell, Debbie Johnson (following surgery), Frank Johnson, Mary Lawrence, Margaret Munro, Mary Powell, Lydia Ann Raybon, and Anna Salter. Crowne Health Care: Ila Ruth Callins, Laura Ellis, Kathy Johnson, Myrtle Perdue, Bertha Phelps, and Iva Lou Wright. Homewood Greenville: Marie Walton. Pine Needle: Mildred Johnson. Georgiana Nursing Facility: Wilmer Howell. Shut-Ins: Jean Hayes, Mary Lou Phelps, and Mary Tindal.

 

2. Remember To Pray: Eric Bagents needs our prayers as he serves in Iraq. His address is Eric Bagents, 3/117^th FWD1 APO AEO9378. Pray for him and write to him often.

 

3. Family Request Prayers: Reba Brooks request your prayers for her husband Bobby and son, Jason. She also asked that we especially pray for her brother, Farris Wayne Holland. He is a cancer patient in the Luverne Nursing Home.

 

4. Remember In Prayer: (a) Matthew Gafford is away for a few weeks. Please pray for him. (b) Allan Jackson requests prayer as he is preparing to go to Iraq.

 

5.  Evangelism The Key To Growth: “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,  and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:46-47.)

 

6. Birthdays: Celebrating birthdays this week are: October 4^th Eric Bagents and Brenda Herring, October 5^th Virginia Lowery and October 7^th  Kathy Bozeman and McArthur Taylor.

 

8. Ladies Bible Class: The Ladies Bible Class meets each Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. This is a wonderful opportunity for great Bible study and good fellowship.

 

9. Thank You: Dear Church Family, The outpouring of love and support for my family during the past few weeks has been strengthening, both emotionally and spiritually. You are an amazing group, of which I am honored to be a part. Please continue to pray for us as we work to recover and regroup. May God bless you all is my prayer. Betty Ann Harrell

 

10. Final Fall Fling: Backwoods Christian Camp’s final retreat of the year will be Friday – Sunday, October 7^th - 9^th.  Bring your usual camp supplies and come ready for an uplifting and fun weekend. We will leave after the football games Friday night. For more info, contact Darrell Powell.

 

11. Fall Childhaven Food & Supply Drive: We are nearing the end of our fall “Childhaven Food & Supply Drive”. We will again purchase items from the Food Bank. Make your contributions now. Pick-up date is November 4, 2005.

 

12. Area Events: (a) October 2^nd – 4^th – Fall Revival – North Lowndes Church of Christ – Speaker: Kyle Butt – Time: Sunday Bible Study 9:00 a.m., Worship 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. and weeknights at 7:00. (b) October 2^nd – 5^th – Gospel Meeting – Luverne Church of Christ – Speaker: Jimmy Mathews – Time: Sunday Bible Class 9:30 a.m., Worship 10:30 a.m., Meal 12:30 p.m. and Worship 2:00 p.m. and week nights at 7:00.(c) October 7^th – Congregational Singing – Georgia Road Church of Christ – Time 7:00 p.m. (d) October 9^th – 13^th – Fall Gospel Meeting – Fairhope Church of Christ – Speaker: J.T. Harrison – Time: Sunday Bible Class 9:00 a.m., Worship 10:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and weeknights at 7:00.

 

13. Weekly Budget: Just a reminder that our weekly budget is $6,135.64. If each family gives as God has prospered us we will far exceed this amount. Your giving is a proof of your love for God. (II Corinthians 8:18)

The Brevity Of Life

 

   No one that I know enjoys thinking about physical death. I suppose that we generally push the thought to a deep corner of our minds, so that we just don’t have to deal with the issue. In one sense, this is not a bad thing, for if we are faithful Christians, then “to live is Christ” (Phil. 1:21). If we are about our Father’s business, we need not worry with death, because “to die is gain.” However, the thought of death can be a helpful thing to those who are without Christ, for perhaps that fear will turn them to Him. For this purpose, let us be aware of the brevity of our lives.

 

   Moses rightly stated, “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away” (Psa. 90:10). We are each given a finite period in which we may live on this earth. We were never meant to live eternally in this land. Then, after this life, we have been appointed to face a final judgment (Heb. 9:27). 

 

   It is folly for us to expect to have any definite amount of time here, for we do not know what even the next moment holds. “What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” So, we ought to live our lives with the attitude that, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that” (Jas. 4:13-15). 

 

   Knowing how unsure life is, it is so unwise to place hope and trust in anything in this world. We must be careful that we “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Mt. 6:19-20). It is only when we do this that we can have a lasting hope.

 

   Christians can take comfort in these words: “…Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on…that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!" (Rev. 14:13). But, if you are without Christ, then death for you is a thing to be greatly feared.

 

- - - - Darrell Powell

 

 

Don’t just own a Bible; read it!

 

Walnut Street Church of Christ

P.O. Box 551

Greenville, Alabama 36037-0551

(334-382-3001)