JESUS IN THE CHURCH – REVELATION 1:13

INTRODUCTION:

1. The worship service that was conducted this morning was watched.

2. Someone observed what took place during our AM assembly.

3. Tonight’s assembly is also being observed.

4. The observer who was and is present is Jesus.

5. Revelation 1:13a says – READ.

I. THE “ONE LIKE UNTO THE SON OF MAN” IS JESUS. IT IS SAID THAT JESUS IS IN THE

“MIDST OF THE CANDLESTICKS”. ACCORDING TO REVELATION 1:20 THESE CANDLE-

STICKS CONSTITUTE THE CHURCH (CANDLESTICKS ARE CONGREGATIONS)

REVELATION 1:13 TELLS US THAT:

A. Jesus knows what is going on in His church.

B. He is 100% informed about what is happening in every congregation of His people.

C. I have been wondering how to approach Revelation 2-3 – the 7 churches of Asia.

D. Should we study each of the 7 congregations individually? Skip them?

E. I have decided, at the present time, to not study the 7 churches but I want to look at

them in light of Revelation 1:13.

F. How well informed was Jesus about these individual congregations?

G. We can provide an answer to our question from Revelation 2-3.

1. Revelation 2:1 – READ.

2. Jesus is pictured as “walking among the candlesticks”. Candlesticks = church.

3. This tells us that when the church meets, Christ is present.

4. Because Jesus is present Revelation 2:2 says – READ.

a. Jesus knows all about the people who make up His church.

b. He knows our works, the good and the bad. He knows our zeal or lack thereof.

c. He knows about our toil and patience or our impatience and laziness.

d. He knows how we view “evil men”.

5. According to Verse 5, He knows when people need to repent. READ.

H. The second letter in Revelation to a congregation is found in Revelation 2:8 – the church

at Smyrna.

I. Revelation 2:9 says that Jesus knows who is poor.

1. Jesus can call needy saints by name.

2. Verse 9b says that Jesus knows all about the devil, too.

3. Verse 10 – READ.

4. Jesus knows when His people are cast into prison – He knows about this in advance.

5. He knows about every trial we have as a Christian.

6. According to Verse 14, Jesus even knows about religious error. READ.

J. Moving into Revelation 3, we find other things Jesus saw in congregations of His people.

K. Revelation 3:1 – READ.

1. There are some churches that keep the doors open.

2. People show up and worship is offered.

3. These churches are for all practical purposes dead.

4. Jesus knows where these congregations are.

5. Keeping the doors open doesn’t fool the Lord.

6. Some owners of establishments may be tricked; duped; deceived.

7. The owner of the church cannot have the wool pulled over His eyes.

L. Jesus knows who is and who is not living a Christian life.

1. There are, sadly, hypocrites in the church.

2. Sometimes hypocrisy is revealed and sometimes it is not.

3. It doesn’t matter if the church knows about sinful members.

4. Jesus knows who is right and who is not. Verse 4 – READ.

M. Jesus also knows when people are partially committed. Revelation 3:15-16 – READ.

N. Jesus also knows who needs to be chastened. Verse 19.

II. THIS IS WHAT REVELATION 2-3 TELLS US ABOUT JESUS AND HIS WALKING AMONG

THE CONGREGATIONS OF HIS PEOPLE.

A. Outside the book of Revelation we have some more information.

B. Let’s turn back to the book of Acts.

C. Luke tells us that after the church was established Jesus Christ was close.

D. Jesus was in the “midst” of the church.

E. Acts 2 tells how some people became Christians.

1. Day by day the church of Christ grew.

2. Notice how Acts 2 ends – Verse 47 – READ.

3. Who did the adding to the church? Jesus!

F. We have often used this verse to show that the church is not joined.

G. This is true. Acts 2:47 tells us something else.

H. If Jesus adds people to the church, Jesus is in the midst of the church.

I. We may say Jesus knows all about church growth and church decline.

J. He is present every time someone is baptized into His body.

K. This is not the only time when the Lord is around His people.

L. Let’s skip to Acts 7. This chapter should be familiar to us.

1. Stephen was an early preacher who didn’t always get a warm reception.

2. In fact, his last group of listeners killed him.

3. If Jesus is in the midst of the church and with the saved, we would expect to find Him

interested in Stephen’s death.

4. This is exactly what we find – Acts 7:55-56 – READ.

5. Was Jesus taking in what happened to one of His people?

M. The next place to look at in Acts is the 9th Chapter.

1. Luke says that Jesus communicated with Saul.

2. Since Jesus was in the midst of His people, He knew what Saul had done.

3. He also knew what Saul could become.

4. Jesus knew that this man would greatly aid His people.

5. Towards the end of Acts 9, in Verse 34a we read – READ.

6. This healing is not attributed to the Holy Spirit – it is attributed to Jesus.

a. On at least this occasion Jesus was the power behind the healing.

b. Jesus was close enough to His people that when they needed help He was there.

N. Moving from Acts 9, we come to Acts 11:21.

O. This passage shows beyond any doubt that Jesus was with His people.

1. Jesus did not abandon His friends.

2. He continually worked and helped those on the earth. READ.

P. If we desire an illustration of how well Jesus did this, let’s look at Acts 23.

1. Paul was called before a council.

2. The people on this council didn’t see things as Paul saw them.

3. The apostle was in hot water.

4. Notice Verse 11 of Acts 23 – READ.

5. Jesus is so concerned about His people that Paul received a personal appearance.

6. Jesus came and stood beside this apostle.

7. Unless this is a figure of speech that I have overlooked, Jesus left heaven and came to be

beside Paul.

8. A personal visit from Jesus Christ sounds like He is very, very interested.

9. The Lord is 100% informed about the church; He knows the good and the bad.

III. SOMEONE MIGHT SAY, “YES, THE NEW TESTAMENT DOES RECORD HOW JESUS WAS

IN THE MIDST OF HIS CHURCH. HOWEVER, HE IS NO LONGER MAKING PERSONAL

APPEARANCES LIKE HE DID TO PAUL. HOW DO WE KNOW IF HE IS STILL IN THE

MIDST OF THE CHURCH?”

A. This is a question we need to ask and answer.

B. We can answer this question.

C. Our starting place is in Matthew, Matthew 18.

D. In this chapter Jesus spoke of settling a dispute.

E. If someone sins against us, we are obligated to go to that person.

F. If that does not work, we are to take one or two others with us.

G. If this does not work, there is a final step.

H. I know of no one who says that this information was just for first century Christians.

I. These steps are to be used in our day and time.

J. Having said this, look at Verses 15-20 of Matthew 18.

K. Many Bibles have these verses formed into a single paragraph.

L. At the end of this paragraph are the words in Verse 20 – READ.

M. Many use Verse 20 for nearly everything under the sun.

N. This verse has a context; it is connected to a unit of thought.

O. This thought starts in Verse 15.

P. If we have a problem with a fellow Christian and we seek to work it out, Jesus is present.

Q. If we say that the process for solving problems is still applicable, then the promise of Christ

being present must also be applicable.

R. Jesus is still in the midst of His people, whether that be 1 or 100.

S. Another text – this one comes from the end of Matthew.

T. In Matthew 28, Jesus gave the great commission.

U. I know of no one who says that this is no longer in effect.

V. We have an obligation to help teach all the world the good news.

W. The final verse in Matthew 28 says – READ/QUOTE.

1. Who is the “you” Jesus will be with?

2. God’s people – members of His church; Christians.

3. What did Jesus promise to the members of His body?

4. He said that He would be “with” these people.

5. Revelation 1:13 shows us what this word “with” means.

6. Jesus is present in the sense that He is in our midst.

7. How long will this go on (occur)? Always.

X. One more example – this one comes from Matthew 26.

1. Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper.

2. He spoke of the kingdom (here kingdom describes the church).

3. When the church came, Jesus said something would happen.

4. Verse 29 of Matthew 26 – READ.

5. Jesus would partake of the communion in the kingdom.

6. The kingdom has come. Colossians 1:13

7. Now Jesus is partaking of the communion with the church.

8. He is not doing that literally – not sitting in a pew and taking communion.

9. He is doing it in the sense that He is present.

Y. Jesus is present in the church.

Z. Any abuse that happens in the church is seen by Him.

A. Every unkind act or hateful word is seen and heard by Him.

B. Any Christian who is injured/hurt is observed by Him.

C. The Lord does not fail to notice any unjust or unkind act towards His people.

D. Most have the sense to leave the cubs of a mother bear alone.

1. Yet when it comes to God’s people many have no reservation.

2. If we understand who Jesus is and how powerful He is, the last thing we will do is

hurt a child of God.

E. Many things in life are treated with kindness and gentleness.

F. That’s the way God’s people need to be treated.

G. The world will not care a whole lot about this message but we need to.

CONCLUSION:

1. Jesus watches our actions in the church.

2. He continually monitors us.

3. We are under constant surveillance.

4. What is He seeing in our lives and in this congregation?

5. Does He see people who need to repent?

6. Is He watching a congregation that is doing its best to spread the word?

7. Is He seeing good works and kindness being extended to every person?

8. We are making a record that is being recorded.

9. If your part of this record is improper, now is the time to correct it.