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Introduction: Read the Book of Revelation Prayerfully
4. Jesus’ Remedy for Each of His Seven Churches
(Five calls to repentance, five words of threatening, and five words of encouragement).
Whoever studies the seven church letters carefully will discover that Jesus openly confronted five of the seven church leaders with a call to repent. But because He knew that calls to repentance often go unheeded, or bring no lasting change following an initial enthusiasm, the Lord followed up by speaking strong words of threat to the five churches. He was determined to immediately bring about a change of character in His church leaders. For the sake of love He had to speak severely and sharply to them. He did not appear to bring final judgment, but to bring change, improvement and sanctification to His churches in Asia Minor. For the sake of love, He applied the lancet first to those who were responsible. The Greek word for “to repent” means “to change one's mind”, while in Semite language it signifies “to turn around and turn back”. Fundamental change of mind should occur in the life of every godly servant, which is visibly manifested in his conscientiously turning away from his sins.
In Order to Bbring About This Change of Mind, Jesus Laid Open the Deficiencies and Sins of His Church Leaders: Only following the recognition of a sin can a change of mind follow. Regret concerning the exposed transgression or the weakness of character should, out of love to Jesus, be quick to follow in the power of His Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit of Christ that cleanses us and leads us to sanctification. If church leaders do not let themselves be sanctified, how will their church members come to change their ways? The laying off of sin, the changing of character, denial of self and the coming to hate the rottenness of the “Me, Myself, and I” is a long and continual process. It goes hand-in-hand with a renewal of the mind and with the creation of the new man. Whoever wants to keep his life, will lose it; but whoever loses his life, for the sake of Jesus, will find it.
In essence, the call to repent and turn around signifies a choosing between death and life, and not about a re-education or improvement of the client. Jesus wants to take up residence in him and to overcome his human weaknesses by divine power. Paul writes, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12-13). Man’s second birth by the grace of Christ is the goal and the essence of repentance.
Jesus Personally Wrote to Each one of the Church Leaders:
Repentance does not go according to a certain plan; in every case, however, it leads to blessing. The Lord wanted, under all circumstances, the offence in the lives of the preachers to disappear, so that individual churches should not be misled through their example.
In two churches Jesus did not call His messengers to repentance; much more, He encouraged them not to grow tired in their race, that they might not lose the crown of life (Smyrna: Revelation 2:10; Philadelphia: Revelation 3:10-11).
Three church leaders, that were called to repent, also heard words of encouragement: Thyatira (Revelation 2:24-25), Sardis (Revelation 3:4) and Laodicea (Revelation 3:18-20).
In all, the Lord called five times for repentance, as well as threatened five times with bitter consequences, in the event repentance was not forthcoming. Beyond that, five times in His seven letters He comforted the church leaders and encouraged them in their trials.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, Deliverer from God's wrath, we thank You because You called most of Your servants to repent. You insisted upon some of them and You encouraged others. You educate Your servants for the sake of love and have written to each one of them personally a message for his spiritual remedy. Do not allow us to remain neglectful in our services, but complete Your education in us that You may reap from us Your own fruits of Your Holy Spirit.
QUESTION:
- How many times did Jesus call the ministers to repent in His seven letters?