What Jesus Sees, Part 1

Jamaal Williams

1 “Write to the angel of the church in Ephesus: Thus says the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who walks among the seven golden lampstands:
2 I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars.
3 I know that you have persevered and endured hardships for the sake of my name, and you have not grown weary.
4 But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first.
5 Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
6 Yet you do have this: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

8 “Write to the angel of the church in Smyrna: Thus says the First and the Last, the one who was dead and came to life:
9 I know your affliction and poverty, but you are rich. I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
10 Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will experience affliction for ten days. Be faithful to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will never be harmed by the second death.

12 “Write to the angel of the church in Pergamum: Thus says the one who has the sharp, double-edged sword:
13 I know where you live—where Satan’s throne is. Yet you are holding on to my name and did not deny your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness who was put to death among you, where Satan lives.
14 But I have a few things against you. You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block in front of the Israelites: to eat meat sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.
15 In the same way, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
16 So repent! Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
17 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name is inscribed that no one knows except the one who receives it.

Revelation 2:1-17 CSB

Big Idea: Jesus sees us as we really are and gives us what only he can give.

1.  EPHESUS

• JESUS REVEALED
  • Jesus is close.
  • Jesus is in charge.
  • He walks among the lampstands.
  • He holds the stars.
  • This church belongs to him.
• JESUS' REVIEW
  • They work hard.
  • They endure.
  • They love the truth.
  • They can spot a false teacher from down the hall.
  • “You have abandoned the love you had at first.”
  • The activity kept going after the affection went cold.
• JESUS' CALL
  • Remember.
  • Repent.
  • Return.
  • “Do the works you did at first.”
  • Remember before you resolve.
• JESUS' PROMISE
  • The tree of life.
  • “I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”

2. SMYRNA

• JESUS REVEALED
  • “The First and the Last.”
  • “The one who was dead and came to life.”
  • The church staring at death gets the Jesus that death could not hold.
• JESUS' REVIEW
  • “I know your affliction and poverty, but you are rich.”
  • They are suffering.
  • They are poor.
  • People are lying on them.
  • “You are rich.”
  • What Jesus says about you is truer than what your situation says about you.
• JESUS' CALL
  • “Don’t be afraid.”
  • “Be faithful.”
  • Name the fear and rehearse the resurrection.
• JESUS' PROMISE
  • The crown of life.
  • “I will give you the crown of life.”
  • “The one who conquers will never be harmed by the second death.”

3. PERGAMUM

• JESUS REVEALED
  • “The one who has the sharp, double-edged sword.”
  • His word exposes.
  • His word judges.
  • His word names what is real.
  • Jesus has the last word.
• JESUS' REVIEW
  • “You are holding on to my name.”
  • “You did not deny your faith in me.”
  • “But I have a few things against you.”
  • Yesterday’s courage does not cover today’s compromise.
  • You can be faithful in one area and compromised in another.
• JESUS' CALL
  • “Repent!”
  • Repentance is mercy.
  • Name the divided allegiance.
  • Obey what he has already made clear.
• JESUS' PROMISE
  • Hidden manna.
  • A white stone.
  • A new name.
  • Jesus can feed you.
  • Jesus can receive you.
  • Jesus can name you.

4. Midtown: Which letter finds you?

• Ephesus: The activity kept going and the love went cold.
• Smyrna: Obedience is costing you and fear is getting loud.
• Pergamum: Compromise is starting to sound normal.

5. What Only Jesus Can Give

• The Tree of Life: The story ends with God's people home and healed.
• The Crown of Life: Jesus' people are going to live with him.
• Manna, A Stone, And A New Name: Jesus can feed you. Receive you. Name you.