Jesus then
elaborates on what this church was going through by describing their primary
opposition as coming from a “synagogue of
Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie”.[3] People
can appear to be good, religious folk who are really serving Satan, and are
lying about Jesus’ church. What matters is that Jesus describes his church in
this way: “I know that you have but little
power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name”.[4] On
one side we have false religious people who are lying, and seem to be stronger
than the church. On the other side, we have a weak church that has kept Jesus’
word and not denied his name.
Putting these
two things together, opponents to those Jesus considers faithful may appear to
shut doors, but Jesus is ruling sovereign over those doors. If he shuts a door
to one town, or one group of people, or one church because they are not receiving
his work, he can open a door to another town, or group of people, or church,
where people will receive the same thing that was rejected elsewhere.
The apostle Paul
faced this many times. One of the most obvious was when he went to the city of Thessalonica
and was soundly rejected,[5]
but arrived at Berea with the same invitation to the good news in Jesus Christ
and was wonderfully received.[6] Jesus
himself could not do many “mighty works”
in his home town because of the people’s unbelief, or lack of faith,[7] but
he marveled at the faith of a Gentile woman who would not stop pressing him
until she received her daughter’s healing.[8]
The point is
simple. All seven of the letters to the churches end with the phrase, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit says to the churches.”[9]
Ultimately, it does not matter what people say about us, or our churches; it
only matters how we measure up to Jesus as he speaks to us through his word and
by his Spirit.
If we seek Jesus
daily, he will teach us what we need to learn, reprove us for what we are doing
wrong, correct us into how to do things right, and train us in the
righteousness that is by faith.[10]
If we repent when he convicts,[11]
and strengthen our devotion when he commends,[12]
it won’t matter whether people support us in our sin, or disown us in our
righteousness, we will be doing Jesus’ will,[13]
and keeping in step with his Spirit.[14]
Every day I
give praise to Jesus because of something specific he teaches me from his word.
Sometimes I give praise to Jesus because that something specific he teaches me
from his word so obviously touches on something specific that has happened to
me. This deliberate application of the word of God to a unique circumstance I
am facing is like a wonderfully soothing balm that heals the wounds that seem
to come too often, and last too long. The more I know the sovereign Savior who
is the only one who truly opens and closes doors, and leads me through both my wounding
and my healing, the more I can rest in his words of victory that wait for me
each morning.
From my heart,
Monte
© 2013 Monte Vigh ~ Box 517,
Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8 ~ in2freedom@gmail.com
Unless otherwise noted,
Scriptures are from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English
Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good
News Publishers.)
[1]
Revelation 3:7-13
[2]
Revelation 3:7
[3]
Revelation 3:9
[4]
Revelation 3:8
[5]
Acts 17:1-9
[6]
Acts 17:10-15
[7]
Matthew 13:53-58
[8]
Matthew 15:21-28
[9]
Revelation 3:13
[10]
II Timothy 3:16-17
[11]
Revelation 2:5, 16,21,22; 3:3,19
[12]
Revelation 2:2-3, 6; 2:9; 2:13; 2:19; 3:4; 3:8
[13]
Romans 12:1-2
[14]
Galatians 5:25
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