Seven Attributes Of Jesus Revealed To Seven Churches

In order to have eternal perspective in any given situation you and I need to know something specific about God. We need to know who He Is and how He functions...

"Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works..." - Revelation 2:1-2a KJV

"And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works..." - Revelation 2:8-9a KJV

"And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; I know thy works..." - Revelation 2:12-13a KJV

"And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet [are] like fine brass; I know thy works.." - Revelation 2:18-19a KJV

"And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works..." - Revelation 3:1 KJV

"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works..." - Revelation 3:7-8 KJV

"And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works..." - Revelation 3:14-15 KJV

Seven is a number representing completion is the Bible. That concept comes from the Hebrew. It is why we have seven days in a week. Seven days give us a complete cycle. God is addressing seven Churches in these chapters for a reason. These seven statements are things that the 'angel' (leader/representative) needed to know about Jesus. Putting them all together gives us a complete view of what we need to know to handle every problem we face.

Every statement is followed by 'I know thy works'. Jesus is telling us and them who He Is and that He sees what they are doing. That order is important because we need to think that way also. We are wise if we look at Jesus to see who His Is first then put what we are doing second and in the context of who He Is.

I'm going to read these seven statements again and again today because they are special. You can't see this in nature, anthropology or through self examination. This is who Jesus Is and only He can tell us that and He does so we can be equipped. It will change what we do and when we do it if we know what God says here about Himself.

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Good, Pleasing And Perfect

I really like how this translation treats the second part of this passage...

"... Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." - Romans 12:2 NLT

That word translated 'perfect' is teleios (Strong's G5046) and it comes from the same root as...

"When Jesus had tasted it, he said, "It is finished!" Then he bowed his head and released his spirit." - John 19:30 NLT - teleō (Strong's G5055)

Who is the one who is going to be pleased when you look back at your life? You are.

Who is going to say 'God was good and He had a good will towards me every step of the way.' You are.

Who is going to say, 'God's will was perfect lacking nothing. He had every detail covered.' You and I will.

Say those things now by faith. They are true statements. Your emotions will start to respond if you say them out loud.

"Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful." - Psalm 33:1 NKJV

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;" - Philippians 4:4-5 ESV

"My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed." - Psalm 71:23 KJV

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Finding Jesus In Revelations

"The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near." - Revelation 1:1-3 ESV

I have studied this book before. I read some of it days after I became a Christian and had nightmares about it. It has been decades since then. I have taken classes focused on this book... heard sermons... preached messages focused on passages.

Still. Today as I read the first few verses they seem fresh to me.

This book can seem like a puzzle. Names. Events. References to other parts of the Bible. Mysteries. 

The other day I got before God and said something like, 'I want to come at this book like I know 'nothing as I ought to' and have you teach me.' then I started to just look for Jesus in each chapter. What was God saying? What is His attitude? What was His tone? I skipped the names and events and just looked for Him.

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."" - Revelation 1:1-8 ESV

"When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last," - Revelation 1:1-17 ESV

"'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." - Revelation 2:2-3 ESV

"And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."" - Revelation 4:9-11 ESV

"...saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads."" - Revelation 7:3 ESV

There is more, so much more, but Who do you see reading this? I see someone who cares deeply and knows people. He sees, observes and rewards. Those who experience Him can't say enough about Him. He is sensitive to pain and suffering. He times things and doesn't rush.

This is MY Jesus. I am His and He has become mine. 

The events are important... sure they are... but Jesus is revealed here and those things blur in the backround as He comes into focus for me.

This book scared me but now I want to eat it like candy.

"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star." The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen." - Revelation 22:16-21 ESV

Come quickly Lord! Thank you for this book. It is a great gift.

Think On These Things

 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things." - Philippians 4:8 KJV

How needed this is when it seems like we see so much of this in the world...

"He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law..." - Daniel 7:25a ESV

This is one of the potions in the Hebrew scriptures that isn't written in Hebrew. Many of the words used can only be found in Ezra and Daniel.

'... times and the law...' is interesting because 'law' here is not one of the Hebrew words for law. It means 'a decree for or against a person'. It basicly means that the people who have favor one day are reviled and the ones who don't are suddenly applauded.

We need this...

"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me - practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." - Philippians 4:7-9 ESV

Wrongs need to be made right but rebellion is never the answer. If we live on the eternal foundation we will have peace not bloodshed.

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." - Matthew 11:28 KJV

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Help My Unbelief

"Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, 'I believe; help my unbelief!' " - Mark 9:24 ESV

Many things have been said about this passage. I see one detail that really puts this passage into context.

"And someone from the crowd answered him, 'Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.' " - Mark 9:17-18 ESV

...So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able...

I have prayed, 'Help my unbelief!' many times. I think it is a good honest prayer that God will answer and wants to answer. What causes this 'unbelief'. I think we could point at many things. Lack of trust. Lack of knowledge. Uncertainty about God's will in a situation. Other People... yes... it could be that other well meaning people have failed us because or their weakness, ignorance or lack of faith.

In a way I think the man was saying, 'I wanted to bring my child to you but I got them instead.'

Jesus says this...

"And he answered them, 'O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.' " - Mark 9:19 ESV

I think He was talking more about His disciples than about this father who was 'faltering' in faith.

"And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, 'You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.' And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, 'He is dead.' But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose." - Mark 9:25-27 ESV

God's plan is so interesting to me. Jesus sent people out to cast out evil spirits but then they run up against this and their failure shakes things up.

He sends out you and i also and we mess things up. Then people have to choose based on our often imperfect witness. Still... God sends us and we are accountable.

"And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, 'Why could we not cast it out?' And he said to them, 'This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.' " - Mark 9:28-29 ESV

Some translations say 'prayer and fasting'.

I imagine these disciples were hungry for this answer with an urgency. I am hungry for the answer. I am hungry to be so centered in on Jesus that I am not hindered. I don't want people to doubt because of me. God knows. He knows. That comforts me.

"And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.' " - Mark 16:15-16 ESV

We go knowing our focus and prayer life is important. The stakes couldn't be higher.

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The Drive To 'Make Our Mark'

Men have this 'need to accomplish things' or a 'desire to leave a mark on the world'. I think it is a 'broken' desire that stems from the very real command that God gave Adam to 'be fruitful and multiply'. Man turned it into a works program but God never intended it to be one.

Video game addiction, career addiction and many other addictions are ways to try and fill the void but mankind is just broken until God enters in and makes us whole. We need the sense of 'accomplishment' and enter into a crisis if we think that our life is like a sand castle that will dissolve at high tide.

Jesus accomplished more in 33 years than any man ever will. His deeds will last forever and when our identity is 'hidden' in Him we have a mystical fulfillment. It is a peace that passes understanding.

Now we can live in the excellence of the moment. Now becomes more than enough as long as 'now' is not living in solitary mediocrity. We can strive to function in the excellence that we already have on our account in Christ.

At times I feel like I fail more than I succeed but is it really failure if I'm walking by faith and walking on the excellent upper highway of praise. Is my boss (God) pleased? Is my father (God) happy when He sees me. Yes! He is happy because of Jesus and that happiness spills over on me because of my association with His Son. I am adopted into the gathering.

I want to be the best {fill in the blank} right now. That means I learn... grow... and walk by faith. Self hatred can only happen if I believe a lie.

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How Did Jesus Deal With Demons?

"But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." - Matthew 16:23 KJV

When Jesus dealt with demons He didn't deal with them like they were people. Pride, selfishness, greed and the whole list of other negative 'emotions' are not natural. They are demonic in origin. Demons are not people. They are a 'host'. They are more like bees or ants than people. The individual has a will but it is lost in the group.

"When Jesus arrived on the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gadarenes, two men who were possessed by demons met him. They lived in a cemetery and were so violent that no one could go through that area. They began screaming at him, "Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before God's appointed time?" There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding in the distance. So the demons begged, "If you cast us out, send us into that herd of pigs." "All right, go!" Jesus commanded them. " - Matthew 8:28-32a NLT

If a group has a favorite place to hang out they build a sentimental attachment to that place. If they have a bad experience in that place once or a couple of times they will find some other place to hang out.

Bringing Jesus into the room gives darkness a bad experience. 

"Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook or press down his tongue with a cord? Can you put a rope in his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook? Will he make many pleas to you? Will he speak to you soft words? Will he make a covenant with you to take him for your servant forever? Will you play with him as with a bird, or will you put him on a leash for your girls? Will traders bargain over him? Will they divide him up among the merchants? Can you fill his skin with harpoons or his head with fishing spears? Lay your hands on him; remember the battle--you will not do it again!" - Job 41:1-8 ESV

Darkness works in darkness for a reason. Leviathan (which can represent that organized darkness) is so seamless and strong that most people don't even know what they are dealing with. Demonic powers are nearly invisible to us in the natural.

"And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all [men], apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And [that] they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will." - 2 Timothy 2:24-26 KJV

Jesus always ruins darkness' day because His light exposes leviathan. He can no longer take pride in his victory in a place. He is greedy and makes reasons to move on to greener pastures.

Don't reason with the Devil. Just bring Jesus into the room and make Him the focus. Tell darkness Christ owns the place, situation and people. 

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." - James 4:7 KJV"

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