Christmas is a season of giving. Many of us have learned that we give better gifts the better we know someone and listen to what they say they want. In all our Christmas celebrations, we can get fixated on the Baby in the manger and forget that Jesus is now the resurrected, ascended, glorified, head of the Church. As we return to the book of Revelation for the remainder of the year, let us consider how we can listen to what Christ says and give Him the gift of responding obediently and faithfully.

Background

Revelation 2-3 contains letters to seven churches that existed in New Testament times. Although the apostle John is the one who recorded the words, they are actually messages from Jesus. Your Bible may indicate this with red letters.  Each of the seven letters begin with a description of Jesus Christ. The letter to Ephesus says, “The words of Him who holds the seven stars in is right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands” (2:1). To Smyrna was written, “The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life” (2:8). Now in the letter to Pergamum we read,

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of Him who has the sharp two-edged sword’” (2:12).

This is an image of power and might, the ability to enforce justice. Jesus is Lord—meaning He has divine ownership rights over us—so we need to take seriously what He has said. The Greek word translated as angel is translated as messenger in other contexts. It’s not clear exactly what this means here, but could refer to the individual who delivers the letter to that church.

Commendation

“I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast My name, and you did not deny My faith, even in the days of Antipas My faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwell” (v. 13).

Jesus knows His churches. He knew the seven churches in Revelation and He knows each church today, including Dulin’s Grove. If someone asked you, “How’s your church doing?” your answer might be long and complex because it includes not only the group that identifies as Dulin’s Grove, but also each individual member. At any given time we have a mixed collection of those who are celebrating, mourning, growing in Christ, struggling with their faith, or perhaps even slipping away. We may not know how our church is doing in full, but Jesus knows every detail.

Jesus also knows the culture of every era. Pergamum was known as a center for many pagan cults including mandated worship of Caesar. Though our culture has not gone that direction, we do need to be careful not to put any national leader on a pedestal that they can’t live up to.

This brings us to the gifts we can offer to Christ:

Gift Idea #1 – Publicly identify with Jesus by name.

As those who follow Christ, we need to be public witnesses. Faith is not intended to be kept secret. It must be shared. This could include things like:

• Sharing what the Bible says about a particular issue that our friends or family are discussing.
• Telling others how we came to faith in Christ.
• Praying in public places.
• Being open about choosing church activities over recreation with friends.

In our Bible-belt culture, it is easy to blend in with the crowds of “nice people,” but it should be clear that we belong to Jesus.

Gift Idea #2 – Recommit to everyday faithfulness to Jesus Christ.

Although our culture does not bring severe or obvious persecution for our faith, we all face “soft pressure” to conform, capitulate, neglect, or otherwise compromise our faith. This subtle seduction may be more tempting than overt persecution. If we were suddenly threatened with violence or imprisonment, we know there are a lot of Christians around us who would rise up to defend against that threat. But if the culture slowly presses us into its mold, it’s easy to give in without really considering what the long-term consequences might be. Some of the everyday things we can recommit to are:

• Reading the Bible
• Praying
• Attending church regularly
• Honoring our parents
• Loving others

If all those who are associated with our church were to recommit to being at church on Sundays and respond to what we hear from God’s Word during each week, it would flow into all areas of our lives. Those places where we have capitulated to the culture would be recaptured for Christ.

Correction

“But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans” (vv. 14-15).

The story of Balaam occurs in Numbers 22-24 and 31. When the Israelites were entering the Promised Land, the resident king of Moab called upon Balaam to curse the Israelites. God prevented him from saying anything against them. However, in chapter 31 we learn that Balaam advised the people to intermarry with the Israelites, which tempted them to immorality and idolatry that drew them away from following God. The indirect temptation was more effective than a direct attack. Something similar was happening in Pergamum. It’s not clear who the Nicolaitans were, though apparently they too were tempting the people to idolatry and immorality.

Gift Idea #3 – Repent of idolatry and sexual immorality.

An idol is anything that we place above God in our passions and priorities. Anything can become an idol—love, power, beauty, success, comfort, and entertainment. If we are to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength,” (Mark 12:30), then each time we choose something other than pursuing our relationship with God, we should ask whether we are letting it become an idol. Idols are built out of a series of choices that become a habit.

Sexual immorality includes any kind of sexual activity outside of heterosexual, monogamous, lifelong marriage. Adultery begins with the heart and the eyes (Matt. 5:28). If there is any sin that you are treasuring, turn to God in repentance and talk to a trusted and mature Christian who can help you take steps to put an end to that sin.

Consequences

“Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it’” (vv. 16-17).

For those who continue to live in disobedience to Christ, there is coming a day of judgment. Those who are truly Christians cannot live in ongoing, unrepentant sin. But for those who repent, they will receive the rewards of faithfulness—restoration of relationship with God now and eternal life to come.

The three gift ideas of publicly identifying with Christ, recommitting to following Christ, and repenting of any sin, are not just for Christmas. They should characterize our daily walk as Christians. Let’s start today.

“Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who… does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son” (2 John 8-9).

Application Questions

1) How might you be tempted to hide your faith? What are some ways you can publicly identify with Jesus Christ?

2) What pressures do you feel to compromise with the world? What is one practical step you can take this week to recommit to following Christ?

3) Are there areas of sin you need to repent of? How might others in the church pray for you or those you love?