Revelation 2 and 3 reveal Jesus as the Confronter and Opponent of all that the flesh or the Devil may bring that would resist His church from becoming a people who break through the darkness and shape the future. As one writer explained, “These seven letters form a conceptually complete review.” The book of Acts reveals the practical out-working of Jesus’ pre-ordained method of bringing about change: the church working, serving, and worshipping in the power of the Holy Spirit. In these two chapters, we see Jesus “walking among the churches.” The fact that Jesus, the Lord of the Church, should make a visitation is instructive – it shows us the difference between the world’s system; and the heavenly system. In the heavenly system, the sovereign Head of the Church personally takes the time and exerts the effort to correct and then offers the promise of a reward. In this world’s system, Mr. Obama would send Sec. of State Clinton. Why the difference? Because “the churches” are His people, citizens of His Kingdom – that’s you and me.
When things proved to be either a corrupting force or a “disintegrating spirit” which was limiting the Church’s effectiveness, in the sovereign timing of the Master of the Church came to confront. As He examined the Church, what did He find? (1) His people were substituting “activities” for the spiritual priorities found in the “teachings of the Apostles.” Even though we have been warned about this tendency of the flesh and the misdirection of Satan, we still lose sight of Jesus as the church’s Foundation of power and our Foundation for building a lifestyle that is progressively becoming more holy and acceptable to Him. (2) He confronted the viewpoint which tolerated impurity as immaterial. Peter told us that we have been given everything we need (power) for building a holy lifestyle. Furthermore, he revealed that each Christian had actually and practically become partakers of the Spirit of Holiness. This view point says “after all, we’re only humans, doing our best, and there will always be sin in our lives and a holy lifestyle is immaterial because we are living in the “age of grace.” (3) The previous viewpoint also rested on the fallacy that material success is synonymous with blessing. The truth is that God causes His rain (blessings) to fall on the just and the unjust alike. (4) Some had begun to replace the work of the Holy Spirit in their midst with man produced religious systems. They were impatient with the authority of the Holy Spirit and the “speed” of His actions. As a result, they didn’t miss the absence of the Holy Spirit until Jesus pointed it out to them. These religious systems robbed Christ of the glory that was rightfully His and the outworking of His grace.
Had Jesus stopped as the Confronter we would be living in desperation, but He is the Redeemer of the Church and He called His people to divinely ordained solutions which apply to all of us. (1) We are to look to our Savior and listen to the Spirit which is a call to worship and prayer. (2) Remember our sins and repent prompting His forgiveness. Receive a deeper knowledge of Him through the word and respond in obedience. (3) Realize that persecution, struggles, and trials are certain – none of us can escape them, but ultimate victory will come as we receive Spirit-given patience and rest in God’s grace.
You and I are directed to set ourselves toward the over-comer’s path and rely on the truth of His word and the redemptive power inherent in His blood. Finally, review the reward for over-comers: (1) Intimacy (Rev 2:4-7); (2) Identity (2:17, 3:5,12) (3) Dominion (2:26-28); (4)eternal Fellowship and Partnership (3:21). Grace to you all!