Bible League: Living His Word "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"Our verse for today is part of the message that the Apostle John gave to the "angel of the church in Ephesus" (Revelation 2:1), one of the seven churches in Asia (Revelation 1:4). Each of the angels of the seven churches received a message from John, as recorded in Revelation 2-3. The word "angel," which means "messenger," refers to the pastor of the church. John received these messages from the Spirit of God speaking through the risen and glorified Jesus Christ. As parts of the Bible, the messages speak to every church of every age, not just to the seven. The messages are words of commendation and encouragement, but also rebuke and warning. In the message to Ephesus, for example, Jesus says, '"But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first"' (Revelation 2:4). At the end of each message, Jesus speaks the same words as those of our verse for today: '"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."' The verse means that pastors and their churches should take to heart what the Spirit says because it is important. It is important not just because there are bad consequences for failing to listen (see, e.g., Revelation 2:5), but also because there are rewards for listening. The church at Ephesus, for example, was specifically promised the right to eat from the "tree of life" located in the "paradise of God" (Revelation 2:7). The Spirit, of course, still speaks to pastors and their churches. He speaks to us primarily through the authority of the Bible, but also in many other ways. In order to hear the messages, however, we must have "an ear." That is, our sensing faculties must be made ready to receive the messages of the Spirit by the Spirit Himself. John, for example, was able to receive the messages for the seven churches because he was "in the Spirit" on the day they were sent (Revelation 1:10). He was, in other words, flowing in the power of the Spirit instead of in his own power. Receiving messages from the Holy Spirit is one of the most important parts of life as a Christian. Let us then, like John, flow in the Spirit so that we will always be ready for them. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingEzekiel 29, 30, 31 Ezekiel 29 -- Prophecy against Egypt NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Ezekiel 30 -- Lament for Egypt; Babylon Victorious NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Ezekiel 31 -- Pharaoh Warned of Assyria's Fate: the Assyrian was a Cedar in Lebanon NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading James 5 James 5 -- Misuse of Riches; Patience; The Prayer Offered in Faith NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.Insight Because God will examine what kind of workers we have been for him, we should build our lives on his Word and build his Word into our lives—it alone tells us how to live for him and serve him. Believers who ignore the Bible will certainly be ashamed at the judgment. Challenge Consistent and diligent study of God's Word is vital; otherwise, we will be lulled into neglecting God and our true purpose for living. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Isaiah 40:9 Get thee up into the high mountain.Each believer should be thirsting for God, for the living God, and longing to climb the hill of the Lord, and see him face to face. We ought not to rest content in the mists of the valley when the summit of Tabor awaits us. My soul thirsteth to drink deep of the cup which is reserved for those who reach the mountain's brow, and bathe their brows in heaven. How pure are the dews of the hills, how fresh is the mountain air, how rich the fare of the dwellers aloft, whose windows look into the New Jerusalem! Many saints are content to live like men in coal mines, who see not the sun; they eat dust like the serpent when they might taste the ambrosial meat of angels; they are content to wear the miner's garb when they might put on king's robes; tears mar their faces when they might anoint them with celestial oil. Satisfied I am that many a believer pines in a dungeon when he might walk on the palace roof, and view the goodly land and Lebanon. Rouse thee, O believer, from thy low condition! Cast away thy sloth, thy lethargy, thy coldness, or whatever interferes with thy chaste and pure love to Christ, thy soul's Husband. Make him the source, the centre, and the circumference of all thy soul's range of delight. What enchants thee into such folly as to remain in a pit when thou mayst sit on a throne? Live not in the lowlands of bondage now that mountain liberty is conferred upon thee. Rest no longer satisfied with thy dwarfish attainments, but press forward to things more sublime and heavenly. Aspire to a higher, a nobler, a fuller life. Upward to heaven! Nearer to God! "When wilt thou come unto me, Lord? Oh come, my Lord most dear! Come near, come nearer, nearer still, I'm blest when thou art near." Daily Light on the Daily Path John 18:36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm."Hebrews 10:12,13 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, • waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET. Matthew 26:64 Jesus said to him, "You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN." 1 Corinthians 15:25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 1 Corinthians 15:57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:20-23 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, • far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. • And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, • which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. 1 Timothy 6:15 which He will bring about at the proper time-- He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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