1) THE REVELATION OF JESUS AND A STACK OF LETTERS
Introduction: Rev. 1:1-20
You’ve got mail. We’ve got mail. In the second and third chapter of Revelation, there appears a stock of letters–seven in all–addressed to the first century churches much like the ones you and I know today. The relevance of these letters is nothing short of amazing. You would think the Spirit of God was looking in on our own church. According to Jesus, people need ears to hear. Churches need ears. Christ still stands speaking in the center of His church.

2) YOU DON’T SEND ME FLOWERS ANYMORE
Ephesus: Rev. 2:1-7
How much do you love Jesus? That’s what He’s wondering! Around burning hot coals on a crisp Galilean morning years ago, Jesus asked Peter point blank. “Peter, do you love me? Through His ancient dusty letter to Ephesian believers who had lost the passion of their first love, He asks the same point-blank question of us. “Do you love me?” How would you answer? How would you know whether your love for Jesus is real or not?

3) WHEN SUFFERING STRIKES, AND YOU FEAR TOMORROW
Smyrna: Rev. 2:8-11
“Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen,” the old spiritual says. “Nobody knows but Jesus.” Amen! Jesus knows our fortunes. He knows what’s happening in our lives as we choose to be faithful to Him. The challenges. The trials. The opposition. The suffering. The sacrifices. As we listen to Jesus speak to the Church at Smyrna, we will be reminded of His presence and power and promise.

4) WHEN YOU’RE LIVING IN SATAN’S LAIR
Pergamum: Rev. 2:12-17
Jesus is grateful for our loyalty and faithfulness to Him right where we live. Like those in Pergamum, Jesus knows how difficult it is when the Devil is in our face and truth gets fuzzy because the world and its values are so overwhelming and bewitching. We’ll hear Him tell how we can be publicly faithful, but privately flawed–how He’s concerned that our compromise with the world dulls the effectiveness of our witness.

5) WHEN YOU THINK YOUR LIFE IS SMALL
Thyatira: Rev. 2:18-29
With Jesus at Thyatira we run smack into Jezebel who’s overpowering the church with her charismatic leadership. There we find believers who were so deluded by what they thought was the insignificance of their purity that they followed her compromising leadership. We’ll hear too, some tough words of warning from Jesus. His faithful may always be a remnant, but His incredible promises enable them to be an unstoppable moral power. When we hold onto what we have and keep His deeds until the end, we’ll face the Morning Star.

6) WHEN YOU’RE ONLY A MORGUE WITH A STEEPLE
Sardis: Rev. 3:1-6
Sardis was merely a morgue with a steeple. We enter Sardis’s doors expecting to find a very alive congregation, but are stunned to find it filled with corpses instead. Not what we expected. Not what Jesus wanted. So He comes to shake them awake.

7) WHEN OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND AND DIFFICULTIES HOUND
Philadelphia: Rev. 3:7-12
Philadelphia was just a little church, but it had an insurmountable opportunity and incredible guarantees. It’s not surprising that, at the threshold of its open doors there stands a cross. In the midst of their inadequacies and hounding difficulties they had to decide whether to give up, give in, or go on.

8) WHEN YOU’VE LOST YOUR HEART
Laodicea: Rev 3:14-22
Are you lukewarm or hot? Halfhearted or whole hearted? Passionless or passionate for God? That’s the question Christ’s visit to Laodicea raises. Neither cold not hot, thinking they lacked nothing, they had a pretty good opinion of themselves. But Jesus shook them up with some sharp criticism and some incredible promises. Will it be enough to fire our passion for God?

9) A GIFT TOO WONDERFUL FOR WORDS
Conclusion:
Revelation is Scripture’s last word on Christ, and this last word on Christ is that Christ is center and at the center of everything. Revelation describes Jesus in such a way that absolutely everything is subordinated to Him He has awesome titles. Awesome achievements. And Awesome gifts for everyone of us. Here is Christ who can engender hope and elicit our praise forever and ever.

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