In the second and third chapters of the Book of Revelation, Jesus spoke to John about the seven churches in Asia and their works. While the messages to the churches differed from each other, there was one thing Jesus said to all the seven churches, namely, He that has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches. The words of Jesus applied to the churches then and still apply to the churches. But do the churches still listen to what the Spirit says unto the churches? Do Christians have ears to hear? Do pastors speak from the Spirit or themselves (their carnal mind) and the world unto the church?
John lived in exile on the isle of Patmos
I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the Kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:9)
John had been banished for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. He lived in exile on the isle of Patmos.
But even though John lived in exile, the banishment from society and his captivity didn’t withhold John from being in the Spirit and listening to the Holy Spirit.
The eyes of John were not focused on himself. John didn’t look at his situation, the circumstances, and his state on earth. He didn’t murmur and complain.
But the eyes of John were focused on Jesus and His Kingdom. John sought the things, which were above, where Christ sits on the right hand of the Father.
After all, his love for God the Father and Jesus Christ and his obedience and devotion to the Holy Spirit had brought him there.
If his love for himself was greater than his love for God, John was never exiled to Patmos. Because he would have succumbed to the pressure of society on him as a Christian (a follower and witness of Jesus Christ). John would have compromised and adjusted the words of God to the will of people, who belong to the world and denied Jesus.
John wasn’t ashamed of the gospel
But John loved Jesus. John wasn’t ashamed of Jesus and of being His witness. Therefore John didn’t keep silent. John preached boldly the gospel of Jesus Christ. He spoke the words of God and was His witness on earth, which had consequences for his life on earth. But John had laid down his life. Therefore he was prepared and able to bear all this for Christ’s sake.
Despite the persecution and tribulation and the exile to Patmos, the Holy Spirit dwelled in John. John lived in communion with Christ and God the Father, and all this was part of God’s plan for his life. (Read also: God has a plan for your life).
In his exile, in the silence, John received one of the biggest and most important visions written in the Bible. God revealed to John what would take place in the end times.
The message of Jesus to the seven churches
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea (Revelation 1:10-11)
On the Lord’s day, Jesus appeared to John, who was in the Spirit. Jesus trusted John with a portion of the treasures of His Kingdom, by revealing to Him the future until the end of the world and showing him the new heaven and the new earth.
Jesus commanded John to write in a book all that he would see and send it to the seven churches in Asia.
The message of Jesus differed per church, since no church was equal to the other.
There was only one thing, that Jesus said to all the seven churches, namely, He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22).
John was meek and had a listening ear and didn’t rebel with his ‘yes buts’, his insights, experiences, and knowledge. John listened and was submissive and obedient to Jesus and wrote down everything that Jesus commanded him to write down.
The messenger of the church
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his (Romans 8:9)
The believers, who are born again in Christ and received the Holy Spirit belong to the Body of Christ. They are the church in a place.
All born-again Christians should have the Holy Spirit abiding in them. Because without the Holy Spirit, they don’t belong to God and can’t communicate with Jesus and the Father. Every Christian should have a living relationship with Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit (Read also: Religion or relation?).
In every local church, a messenger, a pastor (shepherd) is appointed, who is born again and seated in Christ and lives after the Spirit and from the Head, Jesus Christ; the Word, and the Holy Spirit. A pastor, who teaches, corrects, and keeps the believers.
Meekness towards God and a listening ear are essential. If someone is not meek and does not have a listening ear, the person is not able to hear the words of the Holy Spirit.
He that has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches
Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come. He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you (John 16:13-15)
Jesus commanded those, who have an ear to hear, what the Spirit says unto the churches. The Holy Spirit speaks not of Himself but the Holy Spirit speaks what He hears from Jesus. Therefore the Holy Spirit shall speak the words of Jesus unto man.
The Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God (1 Corinthians 2:9-12)
The Holy Spirit searches all things and knows all things. He knows the deep things of God.
Everyone, who listens to Him and is led by Him also knows the things of God. They know the thoughts of God and His ways and know the things that God gave them freely. (Read also: Are God’s thoughts our thoughts?).
The unbelievers don’t belong to God. They don’t have the Holy Spirit abiding in them. But they have the spirit of the world. Therefore, they don’t know the Holy Spirit and don’t have ears to hear His voice. Because of that, they don’t hear His words.
They don’t know God and His will. But they walk after the flesh on self-chosen paths following their vain thoughts.
But the believers, who are born of God, belong to God. Believers have the Holy Spirit abiding in them. They know the Holy Spirit and have ears to hear His voice. They hear what the Spirit says. They’re led by the Spirit and know His thoughts (His will). They walk in His ways and follow Him. (Read also: Is God’s way your way?).
The Holy Spirit has a personal message for every church
Since no area is the same, which means that no village, city, or country is the same, the message for the local churches is not the same.
When we look at the messages of Jesus for the seven churches, no message was the same.
Although the Head and the Spirit of the Body were the same, the local churches operated and walked differently. Because every church dealt with different lives of people and different (territorial) powers, principalities, rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places.
Therefore Jesus had a specific message and mission for each church.
The message for the church of Pergamos did not apply to the church of Ephesus. Because the Christians in Ephesus hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans, just like Jesus, and had abstained themselves from them.
But there were some Christians of the church in Pergamos, who held both the doctrine of Balaam and the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which Jesus hated. Therefore Jesus called the church of Pergamos to repentance. (Read also: What are the works and doctrine of the Nicolaitans? and What is the doctrine of Balaam?)
If the warning and corrective message of Jesus, which was meant for the church of Pergamos, was read in the church of Ephesus, the members of the church would have said, but we don’t adhere to the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, don’t we? We hate this doctrine, just like Jesus. Why do we have to repent? The church would have doubted the reliability of the Holy Spirit and the reliability and relevance of the words of Jesus.
Therefore it’s necessary that every pastor, who delivers the message to the church, must have an ear to hear and take time to listen to what the Holy Spirit says to the church
Do pastors have ears to hear what the Spirit says unto the churches?
But are the pastors, who preach behind the pulpit, born again in Christ? Are they baptized in Christ and born of water and Spirit? Do they have the Holy Spirit abiding in them? Are their eyes and ears opened, so that they see and hear what the Spirit says unto the churches?
This does not mean, seeing and hearing the things that are happening in the natural world and being led by the news. Because through the written words in the newspaper(s) or on the internet and the spoken words on the news on television, this is revealed to everyone. Worldwide, everyone knows what is happening in the world.
But it means, are the spiritual eyes and ears opened through regeneration in Christ? Have they entered the Kingdom of God? Do they see the spiritual realm operating behind the natural realm and do they discern the spirits?
Do their eyes see clearly, so that pastors see the things that the Spirit shows them? Is their hearing clear, so that they hear what the Spirit says?
Or have their eyes become cloudy and their ears constipated? Do they have jammers on their channel caused by their flesh and the world?
The Holy Spirit reveals the will of God to the church
The Holy Spirit knows everything. Nothing is hidden before God. He knows the thoughts and the works of people. The Holy Spirit knows what happens in the church and what is according to the will of God and what is not according to the will of God. He calls the church, if necessary, to repentance.
The Holy Spirit also knows what happens outside the church, in the lives of people, who live in the area where the church is located.
He knows which powers, principalities, rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places are ruling and operating in a village or a city.
This is essential for the church to know. Since the people are influenced and controlled by these (territorial) evil spirits of darkness, who gain access through the lives of people.
The Holy Spirit also knows what will happen. He reveals the future, so that the church stays awake, prepared, and equipped, and stands on the truth of God and be a victorious church.
But it’s up to the pastor to trust God and rely on Him. It’s up to the pastor to submit to the will of the Holy Spirit and be led by the Holy Spirit and spend (much) time alone to listen to His message and preach His words, which derive from Jesus, without fear for (the reaction and opinions) of people in the church, so that the will of God be known and soul and spirit be divided and the works of the flesh be put off and the church shall live holy and righteous before God and be militant in prayer and spiritual warfare.
Pastors are too busy to spend time with God
But many times, pastors are too busy to spend time with God in the Word and in prayer. They plan their day in such a way that they are continuously busy with other things. When the weekend approaches, they become agitated, since they have no message for the church. They look for what they can quickly throw together and use as a sermon
Some use the knowledge, wisdom, and trends of the world as their inspiration. They add some Bible verses to it, so that it looks like it’s coming from God.
Others use Christian books or look at the internet, searching for a good sermon they can use.
But using these motivational messages and words of the world or using sermons and words from other preachers, shall not do anything in the church. They shall not cause changed lives and make a holy and victorious church in the spiritual battle.
That’s because the Holy Spirit has a specific message for each church in every area and at every time.
A message that still contains the unchanged truth of God and the preaching of the cross, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the new creation. A message that calls the people to repentance and to live holy lives after the Spirit. And a message to equip and activate believers in the spiritual army of Christ and the spiritual warfare.
Every shepherd is responsible for taking care of the sheep
Every shepherd is responsible for taking care of the sheep and feeding and keeping them. And that is only possible through the leading of the Word and the Spirit. Without the Word and the Holy Spirit, the light of the church shall be extinguished. (Read also: The darkness extinguishes the light).
The church can call Jesus Lord, but if the church doesn’t listen to Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, and doesn’t do what Jesus says, what shows and what proves that Jesus is the Lord and the Head of the church? Why would Jesus leave the candlestick, if the church compromises with the world and obeys and serves sin instead of righteousness?
The spiritual state of many churches is pitiful
The spiritual state of all countries on earth is pitiful. Just because the spiritual state of many local churches is pitiful.
Many churches are carnal and seated in darkness. Instead of being the light in the area, they have compromised and have become one with the darkness. As a result, there is no difference between those, who belong to the church, and the other inhabitants of the area, who don’t belong to the church. (Read also: If Christians live like the world, what should the world repent of?).
Somewhere on the way, the spiritual leaders of the Church of Christ have deviated from the faith. They have become carnal and influenced by the poor worldly spirits
They allowed the knowledge and wisdom of the world and the seductive spirits in the church. Because of that, they created false doctrines in which (the will of) the flesh of man became the center and sin is approved
But Jesus wants the pastors of the churches to repent and return to Him. Jesus wants them to anoint their eyes and ears, so that they hear what the Spirit says unto the churches and see the spiritual state of the church and the future by the Spirit. He wants them to preach boldly the words of God and be His witness, despite the resistance and persecution of people and the consequences. So that sinners repent and souls are saved and stay saved.
‘Be the salt of the earth’
