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Based on Revelation chapter 2 |
 Who's
ear is this? |
 Now
that was not a hard one. The elephant ear is very unique. |
Now how about this one? |
 Did
you guess buffalo? |
 How
about this ear? |
It is a fungus that grows on a tree. |
The second chapter of Revelation says over and over if you have an ear,
hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." Rev. 2:29 |
 Message
to the church called Ephesus (a real church in Asia Minor, yet the message
also applies to Christians today. This letter from Jesus is heart
breaking. I hope He does not see this same problem in me.)
Dear Ephesus, You forgot your first love. I am worried that your light is almost out. It used to burn so bright. You used to love Me so much. The ones who love again, will get to eat from the tree of life. Love, The One Who holds the stars in His hand, and visits every member of the churches (Jesus) |
 Jesus
does everything He can to keep the lamps of our hearts burning brightly.
In the last lesson we saw How our light comes from Jesus. He watches for
problems that make our light go out. This church was loosing their love.
He said if they did not change, He would have to take their lamp stand out
of its place. It was to be a loving light to the world but He would have
to remove it because their love was dying out.
Love for Jesus is not a changing feeling but shows itself in action. It will be lived out as well as expressed. It warms the hearts of teachers and students as God the Holy Spirit softens and unifies them in love. The Lord wants us to empty our hearts of selfishness and sin every day. He can help us do that. We must commit our lives totally to Him and obey all He shows us. Then we can taste of His power. His love will shine from us like a brightly burning light in the darkness. It is easy to love those who love us back but only God can help us love the angry, mean, violent, and hateful who hit, curse, and call us names. Jesus is just as desperate to save them as to save us. If we run out of love, He can give us more. If we do not want it, He will remove us. |
 The mud rolling beetle
Dung beetle This beetle patiently rolls balls of mud around getting them ready for it's young to live in. It has such an amazing life cycle that the ancient Egyptians thought it had the secret to eternal life. It's babies hatched out of the dung balls. The Egyptians worshipped this beetle. God created this beetle. He is the only one we are to worship. He speaks about Christians in a church experiencing persecution. He said he sees the mud balls they throw.
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 Message
to Smyrna
Don't Give up when hit by mudballs. Dear Smyrna, I noticed that people are mean to you because you love and work for Me. Do not give up. Those who think that it doesn't matter what you do; just believe; I am worried about them. The one who stays faithful will not be hurt by the worst event, the second death. Love, The One Who was made fun of, was beat up, and died, but is now alive. (Jesus)
|
 Sometimes
when children don't like someone they throw rocks or mud at them or hit or
kick and say such horrible things. Sometimes they bite or pinch.
When an adult wants to show anger, they sometimes do these things too. But
usually they use their mouth to cause damage. They say mean and hateful
things. Many times they do this when that person is not there to hear.
This may cause many people not to like that person either. This is
slander. Satan's helpers do these things to anyone that is on God's team.
The church of Smyrna was told not to give up when people in the church
slandered them or when they were thrown into prison. Jesus encouraged them
to be faithful even to death and He would reward them with a crown of
life. He knew the Smyrna church was poor but He said they were rich. He
meant rich in faith and friendship to Jesus. Jesus was proud of them and
wanted them to stay on His team. He does not want you to be afraid if
Satan's helpers put you in prison for talking about Jesus. It was done to
Paul and he kept working for Jesus. |
 Remember
how Caleb and Joshua were threatened with stoning by their relatives for
saying God was strong enough to help them go into Canaan and make their
homes? These men of faith prayed for their family to have more faith. |
 Stephen
was killed with stones for telling the good news about Jesus. |
 He (God) cherishes carefully every act of love
and
endurance performed by them. . . . Christ holds the stars in His right
hand, and it is His purpose to let His light shine forth through them
to the world. Thus He desires to prepare His people for higher service
in the church above. . . . (Review and Herald, May 26, 1903).
{LHU 318.5} Lift Him Up
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| So
don't let the mud balls, sticks, stones or whatever violence you receive,
make your light go out. Jesus holds you in His right hand. You are His
star. People are watching you and may decide to follow Jesus too because
of your example.
DON'T GIVE UP |
| Letter to Pergamum. We like reading the letters Jesus
wrote to the different Christian churches. Each one has advice that we can
use.
The Sword of Truth Dear Pergamum, I know you live where Satan lives; I am glad you do not give up your faith. I am concerned that some of you think it is fine to worship idols and commit adultery. I mean that you put other things or people in place of me. You also make up beliefs and act like I, Jesus am the One Who asked all to believe it. You put these made up beliefs in place of the Bible truth.
If you do not change, I will cut away the rough places with my SWORD OF TRUTH. I have to do this to keep your light from going out. If you repent, and follow ME, you will be given a white rock with a new name and you can eat of the hidden manna with ME. Love, The One with the double edged Sword in His mouth (Jesus) |
| Now here is another letter to the 4th church called Sardis.
I love you so much. I carry you around in My hand to make sure nothing happens to you. I am worried that your light is going out. You think you are alive but you are dead. Some of you are barely alive. Hurry and wake up. If you wake up, you can wear a beautiful white robe. If you do not wake up, it will be a surprise when I come. It will be like a robber has broken into your house. Please wake up. Your thoughts are weighed and it looks like you want worldly things more than you want ME. You would rather not go to church or read the WORD. This is how I can tell you are dead. Please, wake
up! I love you, Love God. |
What does that letter mean? They were still breathing. How could
they be dead? It was another symbol. In Romans 6:11 Paul says we need to
be dead to sin but alive to Jesus. The love of self and pleasure seeking
destroys our peace.
How can we tell if we are dead or alive to Jesus? If I am dead, how will I know it? We can tell by taking a look at what we like to the most. We can look at what we like to read the most. If our favorite thing to do is read the Bible and pray and share what we found, we are alive to Jesus. The heavier thing goes down on the teeter totter. In the same way the scales tips down for the things you treasure the most when God is weighing your thoughts. Historically Sardis was a time period of the church from 1517 till the end. It was started by the reformers Luther, Hus, Tyndale and many others. |
| The 5th letter was to the church at Thyatira: Reflect Jesus
not selfish Jezebel
I know that you have done good things, and are loving and faithful. You are even doing better things now than before. But there is a serious problem. You tolerate Jezebel who calls herself a prophetess and leads many to commit adultery, and worship idols. These people will be punished with sickness and trouble. Those of you who refuse to follow Jezebel, must hold fast to your faith until I come. He that turns away from Jezebel who keeps My rules until I come will be given authority over nations. I also will give him the morning star. Love, The One with eyes of fire that see everything and feet of burnished bronze that have walked the earth, Jesus
|
 The
wicked teachings of Jezebel were ruining the church. Remember, she lived
at the time of Elijah. Instead of drawing attention to Jesus, she wanted
all to look at her, her pretty clothes, and her teachings. She worshiped
Baal. She was eager to kill all of God's prophets.
Have you ever seen anyone like Jezebel who wanted all the attention? Instead of encouraging every one to look at us, we should point people to think of God. Everyone who really loves God will do without bright new things and use the money for mission work. They will not be trying to show off their talents but will point to Jesus. |
 Letter
to the Philadelphians
Dear Philadelphia, I know the good you have done. I have opened a door to heaven for everyone who believes and follows. I opened this door when I shed my blood. No one can shut this door. I am glad you have not denied My name. I will make those in the church of Satan to recognize that I love you. Because you have been true, I will keep you during the hour of testing that is about to come on the whole world. I am coming quickly. Hang onto what you have and do not let anyone take your crown. Love, The One who is Holy, True, and has the key to the house of David. Rev. 3:7-13; Isaiah 22:22) Jesus |
| Our Redeemer was born to Mary one of the descendents of David. He has opened the way so that the most sinful, most needy, the most oppressed and despised, may find access to the Father. In faith you can say, "Jesus, I believe." Then you can follow His commandments. No one can close the door on you. Heaven is open to the prayers of everyone. |
 The
7th letter was to those who do not like to work
Dear Laodicea, You are lukewarm. I don't like lukewarm water. Because you are lukewarm, I will spit you out of my mouth. You think you are rich, and do not need anything but you are miserable, poor, blind, and naked. I am standing at your door with things for sale that will fix the problems. Will you open the door? If you let me in, we can eat together. Love, The faithful and True Witness , Jesus |
 Jonah
decided it was time for a vacation when God called him to do a job. After
3 days in the belly of a fish, Jonah was vomited out on the land by the
big fish. Then he decided he would go to work.
Pleasure seekers see no need to work. They do not realize they are miserable, poor, blind, and naked. They need to be digging for truth as for hidden treasure. They need to be praying for clearer light so they can see better. Then they need to be looking for someone to share the light with. They need to love others as Jesus does. The lukewarm person thinks he is a good Christian. But when Jesus goes to pray for them before the Father, He feels so sick about them that He throws up. |
 He
will give you the crown of eternal life. |
| The
Bible is full of stories of His love and how He answered the prayers of
others. Lets read it every day. |
Also
some believe the dangerous doctrine that it doesn't matter what you do
just believe in God.
Dear
Sardis,
Dear
Thyatira,
The Morning Star is Jesus. (Rev. 22:16) Every true follower of Jesus
catches the beams from the Morning Star, and reflects the light to those
who are in darkness. Not only do they shine in their own neighborhoods,
but as a church they go to distant places that need light.