Let Them Hear

Revelation 2:7-17; 26-29

Main Idea: Those who overcome by faith in Jesus Christ will reign with Him in eternity.

     Let me ask you a question: If you were to experience a sudden loss of hearing, how would it impact your daily life?

     You might find yourself having to ask others to repeat themselves or to speak louder on the phone or in a conversation. In a restaurant, you might find it difficult to pick out what someone is saying amidst all the noise. Chances are, we won't fully appreciate the ability to hear until hearing becomes a problem.

     In Revelation, Jesus addressed letters, or messages, to His churches in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. In each letter, Jesus challenged believers to listen to what the Holy Spirit was saying.

     Hearers had to deal with background noise from the culture around them-and from problems within some congregations-that demanded careful listening to know what the Spirit was teaching.

     Christ-followers and churches today face challenges similar to those of the churches in Revelation 2-3. If we listen carefully to what the Spirit said to the churches in the first century, we will hear Him speaking to us today as well.

     Our approach to interpreting the Book of Revelation understands the seven churches to represent not only all types of churches, but also seven distinct stages of church history. That is, the letters show a progression of the Church's response to its mission in the world from the first century until the return of Christ. That being said, it's important for us to remember that Jesus initially instructed John to send the Revelation to seven actual congregations in the province of Asia.

     The province of Asia was awash in paganism at the end of the first century. The churches in provinces such as Asia faced the threat of persecution if they refused to acknowledge or participate in the state "religion." The letters in Revelation 2-3 also address specific concerns in each church's local context: concerns such as false teachers, conformity to the world, and spiritual complacency.

     The letters all follow a pattern: (1) a description of the Sender; (2) a compliment to the recipients and/or; (3) a criticism; (4) a command for action; and (5) a promise to all who overcome.

     For today, read Revelation 2:7-17. Ask yourself these questions: What are the roadblocks in my life that may need to be removed in order to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to me and my church? What steps are needed in order to remove those roadblocks. Write down your responses.