An expose from Jesus. (taken from Revelation chapters 2 & 3)
Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.
Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.
I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
Do you understand that these churches are from the very first century believers? Many still could have spoken to people who actually knew Jesus IN person and witnessed things by first hand account. Certainly, our modern-day American Church has been likened to the Church of the Laodiceans (the last paragraph of sins listed here) by countless preachers and expositors. Certainly, the above listed ‘sins’ are still prevalent today within OUR churches. (we’re still human and have the same ‘flesh’ as they did.) And, since these were and are exposed by Jesus Himself – are we taking them seriously? Do you take personal spiritual inventory of yourself in these things – asking the Holy Spirit if any of these apply to you? Is your pride, fear, or lust clouding your ‘eyesight’ concerning any of these things? How serious are these things? Serious enough for Jesus to expose them to the entire Body of Christ and then the world.
Yes, there were ‘good’ things Jesus said to some of these churches in the letter(s) as well – but we should not only remember the ‘nice’ words but take VERY seriously the corrective words and actions Jesus was calling for from each member in each church. Also understanding these directives REQUIRES the direct Rhema Word spoken by the Holy Spirit to each individual who reads the letter. To only mentally and intellectually attempt to understand these directives without the Holy Spirit’s personal conviction and understanding to your mind, heart, and soul, will certainly ‘miss the mark’. Have you asked the Holy Spirit about these ‘sins’? Have you done ANY personal analysis of these passages? Have you looked them up in the original Greek? (go to Biblehub.com) Are you serious about how you are living your life before Him? Are you intimate enough and can hear Him clear enough to bring this list before Him and ask if any of these need to be addressed in our own lives?
Some might think the whole Jezebel scenario might not apply, but do you know how prevalent the issue of pornography is within the members of your church today? Or the issue of ‘idols’ and how prevalent idol worship is currently – but that we just don’t classify it that way? Or that our ‘works’ for Him are done out of our own machinations rather than being from the directives from the Holy Spirit? (Definitely less than ‘perfect’) Or the beliefs in false doctrines? (these ABOUND in today’s churches!) Don’t be so quick to dismiss ANY of these ‘sins’ Jesus exposed to these churches. Do you think the character of the human changes because of ‘time’, or are we still subject to our ‘fallen’ fleshly nature? Who is the One who changes us? We ourselves – or is it Him when we surrender to Him?
Do you really want to wait to address these when Jesus calls you ‘home’? Or will you be wise and kneel before Him now – asking for His help, and repenting for everything He shows you about your words and actions?
Take inventory today. For tomorrow there may not be time.