A message for the Church..

This week we moved on to chapter 2 of Revelation, and Toby preached on the message from Jesus to the church at Ephesus (check out the download on this website).
Can you imagine being on the receiving end of that message - in the church at Ephesus! Imagine the scene, one Sunday morning, when the church is gathered together, one of the elders standing up and saying: “Listen up church, John has sent us a special letter containing a message from Jesus himself to us!” Imagine the rapt attention, the anticipation! All texting, twittering and fidgeting stops! He reads on, quoting Jesus’ words: “I know your works....” Can you imagine? I think that morning would be life changing for many; the realization that Jesus is intimately interested in the daily life of everyone in that local church, that he is deeply concerned about their circumstances, their priorities, their attitudes and their personal devotion, would, I think, have a radical impact.

The truth is, of course, that all of the above is true for every local church. Jesus, the Lord of the universe, is not just vaguely interested in his church, he is walking among the individual lampstands. He knows each local church intimately. He commends, encourages, warns. We’re an open book to him and his longing for His bride is seen in his concern & ambition for each particular congregation. Every time we assemble there should be that same sense of awe and anticipation to hear His voice, to hear Him speaking through prophecy, the scriptures, the preaching, because Jesus really is present and active in His church. That is what these opening chapters of Revelation tell us, and we would do well to take it to heart.

I finish with a quote from Terry Virgo, from his book entitled ‘A People Prepared’. I quote: 'Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her (Eph 5:25). She is his special delight in all the universe. She is his joy, his preoccupation, his passion, his darling bride. In all creation one thing fills the heart of Christ - his beloved church. We need to rediscover the incredible value & sig of the local church in God’s plan & perspective. She is not to be ignored and despised; she is to be honoured & cherished. Each lampstand is not plastic but golden - of peerless worth to Christ.’

Goff