It Is Written Script: 1252 What I Like About My Church Page 1 What I Like About My Church Program No. 1252 SPEAKER: JOHN BRADSHAW Thanks for joining me today on It Is Written. Have you ever noticed that food products you so often see in advertisements don t seem to bear much resemblance to the food you actually see in restaurants and fast-food places? These big glossy pictures you see in billboards and on signs and in magazines and various ads here and there I ve often heard people say, and I m sure I ve said myself, That doesn t look a lot like anything I ve ever purchased... McDonald s in Canada recently released a video showing how one of their burgers is prepared for a photo shoot. For a burger to look good in an advertisement, it takes a whole team of stylists several hours of preparation. The video shows that the burger is prepared meticulously before being photographed in a photo studio the cheese is melted down with a warmed knife, and mustard and ketchup are actually added with a syringe. The bun is then strategically slanted to show off the ingredients in the most attractive way, and then comes computer magic. The colors in the photo are digitally enhanced, and all the imperfections in the bun are smoothed out so everything looks perfect. You might think you re looking at the real thing, but you re not. The real thing is far less perfect that the publicity suggests. I haven t eaten one of these in more than 20 years... Now, I hope you don t mind me comparing a fast-food burger to the church, but I m about to. It isn t uncommon to have an idea in your mind of what the church should be like, and then find out that like this burger right here the church often appears to be more perfect than it really is. You drive past a beautiful big building and you might think to yourself, Ooooh. Or you hear the choir sing or the pastor speak or you hear about the community programs and you might think, Those people must be so close to God! And maybe some of them are. I remember the first time I walked into a church after I d decided to be a follower of Jesus. They sang! They prayed! They acted the part! I thought they were all ready to go to Heaven right then. But before too long, the gloss started to wear off, in that I discovered people weren t as perfect as I thought they might have been. Over the
It Is Written Script: 1252 What I Like About My Church Page 2 years, I ve discovered that it s very hard to find a perfect church. In fact, I ve never found one. Never even come close. And this discourages some people. Here s the sad truth: Church leaders and pastors and ministers and members frequently get it wrong: there are moral failings, financial messes, interpersonal friction...and some of these things even make the headlines in the news media. People are imperfect, they act imperfectly, and yet Jesus rested the hopes for the future of the church upon imperfect people. And how does He feel about this? Well, God s history with His people is sort of complex, in a way. He created a perfect world and put two perfect people in a perfect garden, and they went astray! He would have to send His Son Jesus to redeem the world and bring the human family back into harmony with Him. Later, God called Abraham to follow Him. But even Abraham didn t always get it right. Then, like his dad, Isaac lied about his wife; Jacob swindled Esau; and the sons of Jacob were just plain dysfunctional at times. And these were God s leaders. Israel was in the wilderness 40 years because of their unbelief, and they were led by Moses, who was a murderer! They finally made it to the Promised Land, and acquitted themselves so badly that 10 of the 12 tribes were scattered and absorbed into the heathen nations around them. Then, when Jesus came to Israel His church, really He hardly got a great welcome. There were hundreds of prophecies about His coming. John 1:11 puts it this way: He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. The book of Isaiah says in chapter 53:3: He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief His own people called for His death, and had Him nailed to a cross. His own people! And you think YOUR church has problems. Someone who was there when Jesus was crucified was the Apostle John. About 60 years after the crucifixion, John wrote the book of Revelation. John was a prisoner on the Island of Patmos, a tiny island in the Aegean Sea, close to Turkey, measuring just 13 square miles in area. Now for perspective, New York City is 468 square miles. Patmos is just over half the size of Providence, Rhode Island, and smaller than Frankfort, KY. And there was John, on Patmos, a prisoner, when God gave him the vision that ended up being the book of Revelation. And John was aware that the early Christian church was far from perfect! He d seen it all arguing, theological debates, troublemakers in the church, faulty church leaders... But I want you to notice something where John saw Jesus.
It Is Written Script: 1252 What I Like About My Church Page 3 Let s look in Revelation 1, verses 12 and 13 (Revelation 1:12, 13): Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man... Now this is fascinating, because we read in Revelation 1:20 that: The seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches. Isn t that something? Jesus is shown as being in the midst of His churches His far from perfect churches. What does Jesus say about these churches? We re going to find that in spite of all her failings, Jesus has a lot to say about the churches that is good. In just a moment, we ll open up Revelation 2, and find out what Jesus likes about His church. EVERY WORD DEVOTIONAL You ve heard it said, Here today, gone tomorrow. And that s what it s like with the fun people have when they sin. The thrill of gambling or drinking or whatever only lasts briefly. Then there s reality to deal with, often guilt or financial issues. Same thing with other sins like pride and anger and lust. Any benefit a person gets is temporary. There s nothing that lasts in a meaningful way. Hebrews 11:25 says Moses chose to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. The pleasure of sin is transitory. Drugs and alcohol get you up for a short time. Dishonesty gives you an advantage briefly. Immorality is for the moment. If you want something that will last, you ll avoid sin, the pleasures of which are seasonal. One thing really lasts: the pleasure of being one with God. That s forever. I m John Bradshaw for It Is Written. Let s live today by Every Word. RETURN TO PROGRAM In Revelation chapters 2 and 3, John writes to seven churches in Asia Minor today we d call that part of the world Turkey. These were literal churches in literal places Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. So the messages were, in the first place, for those churches. But the number seven appears all over the book of Revelation. You read about not only seven churches but seven Spirits, the seven candlesticks, seven stars, seven lamps of fire, a book that has seven seals, the seven horns and seven eyes of the Lamb, seven angels with seven trumpets, seven thunders, a dragon
It Is Written Script: 1252 What I Like About My Church Page 4 with seven heads and seven crowns, a beast with seven heads, seven angels having seven vials containing the seven last plagues, and the beast with seven heads, which are also said to be seven mountains and seven kings. This repeated use of the number seven with so many different symbols suggests there s a symbolic element to it. Throughout Scripture the number seven, when used symbolically, is generally understood to indicate completeness, perfection. While the messages to the seven churches applied to conditions in the church of John s day, it also appears reasonable to understand these messages as descriptive of the whole church at any time during its history. A Christian writer wrote in about 200 A.D. that John writes to the seven churches, yet he speaks to all. In other words, there s something in there for everyone. The churches are listed in the order a messenger carrying a letter from John on Patmos would get to those cities. And the churches, though they existed long ago, are representative of the Christian church at various stages down through history. Let s look at that, and let s see what Jesus likes about His church. First, the church of Ephesus. The word Ephesus means desirable. It represents the first period of church history after Christ died. Ephesus had been a stronghold of paganism where the Apostle Paul had taught and preached and worked miracles. This era represented by the church of Ephesus was one when the Gospel message was pure and the church grew, and Jesus commends the Ephesian church by saying in Revelation 2:2, 3: I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And that you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name s sake and have not become weary. Jesus says, I know your works. I m aware of your deeds as they give evidence of your moral character, and I know how you ve endured. This was a time when the church grew. Churches sprung up, and paganism actually feared for its existence. Jewish leaders said believers had turned the world upside down. And Jesus commends the Ephesians by saying, I know how you cannot bear them which are evil. You have tried them who claim to be true believers, and you ve uncovered them. Jesus likes it when we have very little tolerance for sin especially in our own lives not intolerance for evildoers, because there is an evildoer inside all of us. Jesus says, What I like about my church is that they have accepted my standard of righteousness. Now here s a challenge for us. We live in an age of moral relativism. Preachers are under immense pressure to soft-pedal the Bible. But some things are wrong, and
It Is Written Script: 1252 What I Like About My Church Page 5 always will be wrong. You don t want to sound harsh, but there are some things that aren t consistent with Christianity. And surely it s okay to acknowledge that. In fact, we have a responsibility to do so. Now, on the other hand, if you re immoral, if you re breaking the 10 Commandments, if you re whatever you re into you may know that you re doing wrong, but you may not know how to fix that. My friend, remember, Jesus is in the midst of his churches. He identifies with His people. If you hear God s voice, don t resist. If you know that God is inviting you to make the simple request, Lord Jesus, come into my heart and make me new, He will do that for you! He really will. The Ephesian church actually stood for something, and Jesus said, That s something I like about My church! The next church we re looking at is the church of Smyrna. Smyrna might mean sweet-smelling, which possibly equates with the many who gave their lives for their faith in Jesus. Some scholars say the church of Smyrna correlates with the period of history from about the end of the 1st century to about the beginning of the 4th. What does Jesus like about this church? Let s read Revelation 2:9: I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. He goes on to urge them not to fear, but to hold fast and be faithful. These were people who were poor in this world s goods, but Jesus called them rich because they were rich in faith, and Jesus liked that about His church. Jesus likes it when His church manifests faith in Him no matter what the circumstances. And that s what faith is. Faith is believing the Word of God simply because it s the Word of God, and not because of anything external suggesting that you should. Anyone can trust God when things are good, but when the chips are down, that s another matter. I read the story of a man who d been wrongly imprisoned in the state of Oregon for over 20 years, for a crime he didn t commit. When he was finally released he was able to say, God is good. No bitterness. You see, he never lost his faith and he trusted in God, even when the chips were down. And that s faith. That s what Jesus liked about the church of Smyrna. Rich in faith, even when they had nothing else.
It Is Written Script: 1252 What I Like About My Church Page 6 The third church is the church of Pergamos, which means elevation. What did Jesus like about this church? When the Roman Emperor Constantine embraced Christianity, the Christian faith was elevated to a position of favor across the Roman Empire. Church and state started to join hands. And Jesus says to the church of Pergamos in Revelation 2:13: I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith... Jesus likes it because they have not denied His faith. Not denied the faith in Him, and therefore in His Word. You know, I don t have to have answers to all the questions that the Bible raises, and I don t know anyone who does, actually. I might have answers for many, but I can t tell you how Jesus could raise the dead. Or give sight to the blind. Or turn water into wine. Or heal lepers. But I don t have to know how He did it. I simply believe that He did it. It s that easy. Today, a staggering amount of churches don t believe in the Bible account of a sixday creation. Why? Because certain scientific evidence raises questions that can be difficult to answer. Now, it s wise to be as educated as you can be on different subjects, but at the end of the day, I might just have to admit that I don t understand certain things, but that I ve understood I can trust God. That s faith. I can t tell how God wrapped rings around Saturn or painted that big red spot right there on the side of Jupiter. A group of scientists calculated that there are more than 70 sextillion stars in the sky. And these are just the ones you can count. You might ask, How many is that? Well, I ll tell you. More stars than grains of sand on all the beaches and in all the deserts there are on planet Earth. These are just the ones you can see! In other words, the universe is infinite. And so is God! So when Jesus says, When the church believes has faith I like that! we can understand what He s saying. If you re wondering why we re ignoring the bad things about these churches listed in Revelation 2 and 3, the things Jesus doesn t like, we looked at those things in another It Is Written program. Yes, there are plenty of things Jesus doesn t like about these churches. But again, remember where He stands. Revelation has Jesus standing in the midst of the churches. Even when His people don t get it right, Jesus stands with His church. The church of Thyatira is said to correspond to the Middle and Dark Ages, a time of great persecution. Here is what Jesus says in Revelation 2:19: I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.
It Is Written Script: 1252 What I Like About My Church Page 7 The last were more than the first. In other words, they experienced spiritual growth. Jesus was able to say, I like that about my church. They re growing. They re pushing forward. They re becoming more like Me. They re not staying still. There was plenty about Thyatira that wasn t so good. But here s a key point: God wants us to be pressing forward in our faith. You might not be what you ought to be, but if you re not what you used to be, that could demonstrate that you re growing. Faith in God is to be a growing experience. A continual pressing forward. You don t want to get to the place where you stop growing, where you quit moving forward, where you ve plateaued and you re not becoming more like Christ. Remember what Jesus said in John 8:31, 32: Then Jesus said If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. The thought there is continuing in God s Word, not stagnating. How is it with you, friend? Don t be satisfied with the status quo in your experience. Keep on pressing forward with Jesus. The church of Sardis is said to be the church during Protestant Reformation times. Jesus says in Revelation 3:4: You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. There were some here who stayed true to Jesus, even though the majority had forsaken Him. Jesus likes that! And that tells me that we can stay close to Him even when those around us don t. Many people have lived Christian lives in un-christian homes. Spouses who have weathered difficult marriages to individuals who looked like they d never change or who would never make a spiritual commitment in their lives. But Jesus is with His people in those difficulties. Some in Sardis hadn t defiled their garments, and Jesus liked that! Then there s the church at Philadelphia. Jesus says in Revelation 3:10: Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. There s something about just hanging on to God. Here were people who had kept the word of His patience. Jesus liked that. If we hang on to Him with a faith that just refuses to let go, He will keep us from temptation. You know, the spiritual strength we need from day to day is found in God. Really, ours is just to hold on to God and expect Him to do what He wants to do in our lives. The church at Philadelphia did that. They persevered.
It Is Written Script: 1252 What I Like About My Church Page 8 And now the church of Laodicea. Laodicea means a people judged, or the judging of the people. This Laodicean church correlates to the end-time church. There s not much here that s very complimentary. In fact, I can t find anything in this passage that would constitute Jesus saying something positive, something He likes, about His church. And maybe maybe that s what s most encouraging. When the church is failing Him, Jesus still says, That s my church. I m not trying to give a free pass to unfaithful churches or church leaders. If you read the rest of the letters to the seven churches, you ll find that Jesus doesn t give them any kind of free pass either. But to a lukewarm church, the church of Laodicea, a church that doesn t even know the seriousness of its lost condition, Jesus issues an invitation. In Revelation 3:20, 21 he says: Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. Even though the church has let Him down, Jesus issues a gracious invitation the invitation to repent, and to have your life connected with His. Even in this day when imperfect people often fail to represent God as they could, or should, God offers us the chance to be connected with Him. In spite of our own imperfections, our own failings, Jesus is gracious enough to offer us a seat with Him on His throne. Jesus still sees things He likes about His church. And about you. The offer is open, to all of us, to open the door of our hearts and let Jesus come into our lives. I want to ask you, are you willing to do that today? The church might be imperfect; we might be imperfect. Yet God finds something about us to rejoice in. And perhaps it is simply this: That we are His. PRAYER Let s pray together. Our Father in Heaven, thank you. Thank you that we can look at these seven churches so imperfect and yet find that Jesus says, Here s what I like about My church. Thank you, Lord, that you can look at our lives and find something in us that is worth redeeming, something in us that you wish to save. I pray today that as you find something likeable about these churches, as you find something to be joyful about in the seven churches in the book of Revelation, I am grateful that you can find in us something that makes your heart glad. Lord, would you take your heart and let us be like these people invited in Revelation to open up the door and let you come in so that we might spend real time, eternal
It Is Written Script: 1252 What I Like About My Church Page 9 time, with you? We thank you today for encouraging us from your Word and we pray in Jesus name, Amen. It Is Written Box O Thousand Oaks, CA 91359 USA Tel: (805) 433-0210 Fax: (805) 433-0218 www.itiswritten.com