The Enemy in the Camp Part 15: What would your Letter Say?

If you are a believer and have been in a congregation for at least a few years, then you have some idea of what goes on within your church body. In the 2nd and 3rd chapters of Revelation, we see that Jesus directed John to write a letter to the preachers of the seven churches of Asia. These letters varied according to the happenings within them. I will attempt to discuss the importance of the letters.

Revelation 2:1-7 To the angel of the church in Ephesus write…

Revelation 2:8-11 To the angel of the church of Smyrna write…

Revelation 2:12-17 To the angel of the church of Pergamum write…

Revelation 2:18-29 To the angel of the church of Thyatira write…

Revelation 3:1-6 To the angel of the church of Sardis write…

Revelation 3:7-13 To the angel of the church of Philadelphia write…

Revelation 3:14-22 To the angel of the church of Laodicea write…

We become aware of the struggles and shortcomings of these gatherings in the seven churches of Asia as we read the passages. However, this writing is not only about being aware of the faults of these groups, but more importantly, to focus on our own. It is easy to imagine the church, our church as some gathering. For most it is denominational gatherings and the image of the church is of a building. We have visions of the exterior and interior, the preacher, and its members.

It’s go to church, and maybe Sunday school class where the teacher waxes over some Scripture in a superficial manner and moves on to something different the following week, or even worse uses a quarterly following some sad attempt at teaching as if the adult members were grade school children, and yet this is the norm in many places. Today, it is difficult indeed to even call these gatherings places of worship. So many are fooled into thinking the music time is the worship and the preaching is church, as if there were a separation, and the teaching in morning classes as separate as well.

When compared to the true teaching of Scripture, what I have described is a sad state of affairs indeed. As the Scripture shows us, it was to the individual that Christ Jesus established His Church. Christ did not assemble the apostles and say, “This is the church.” Jesus spoke to Peter and established the Church on one thing, and one thing alone. The belief that Jesus is the Christ and the Son of the Living God. That, brother and sister, is the Church!

If we examine ourselves as God does our hearts, then we can become what we must be, and that is the body of Christ, the true church. We must ask ourselves the difficult questions and realize our shortcomings. We are the Church, we are the Church, we are the Church!

I would write this ten times if I thought it would make just one more person come to the realization that it is us as Christian individuals that are the Church, and not some establishment with fancy exteriors or interiors and a sign out front. When Christ established the Church when He told Peter that upon that Rock He would build His Church, there was another portion of His statement that many overlook. If we are who we are supposed to be in accordance with the Word, then just as Jesus said, “The gates of hell will not prevail against it!”

If all that most imagine the Church to be were to get wiped away and there were never anymore gatherings or corporate worship, then there was never anything of God there to begin with. Even more personal, if the place where you gather were to be swept from this earth and you stopped worshiping, then you were never part of Christ’s Church.

I hear so many say they just want to feel like a part of something. With so-called churches pushing people to become members, I have to ask, “Members of what exactly?” If truly saved, then we are the Church, but if membership is needed I say join the BPO Elks Lodge, or establish an adults’ scouting organization where you can earn merit badges and wear a uniform that feeds the need for belonging and gives a sense of accomplishment.

I promise you will find those things lacking. I know beyond all doubt that if or when you completely sell out to God, when your only desire is to serve and please Him, in that place you will find a sense of belonging that you have never known! You will not feel a need to be a member of some establishment, be it a secular club or a denominational one.

You will know that you are a part of something far greater. In this place I feel purpose, accomplishment in what is worthwhile, peace and joy far beyond anything I have ever known, and I wish you all would know it also. The difference is that all those places I mentioned require of you, but when you give your all to God, rather than feeling required to do, you gain a desire to do more and more, freely giving of yourself and doing to please the Lord.

So, I ask you if you will examine yourself deeply. If Christ sent a messenger to you with a letter what would it say? Would the shortcomings convict, would you change to please Him? Would you be found strong in the Word and the struggles of this world, or would you be found lukewarm in your walk with Him? As hard as it may seem, these are the questions we must ask ourselves. Just as God wrote on the wall before Belshazer the King, when we are weighed and measured, will we be found lacking?

Grace does not mean we have the power to do as we please, it means we have the power to do what pleases God! —John MacArthur

Kenneth Kellar

A Man Called by God to Teach and Disciple