Church and Spirit - encouragement for church planters (Revelation 3:7-13)

In preparation for this discussion we should read Revelation chapter 3 verses 7 to 13. This is a passage that I have recently found encouraging in regard to our church planting efforts. Five of the seven letters to churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 have a strong critique and some pretty negative feedback to offer. The most famous critique is contained in the letter to Laodicea (3:15-16): “So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth”. The Baptist Union of Victoria recently asked churches to have a look at these seven letters … to see if ‘any of the caps fitted’. So I reviewed these letters a bit, and was taken afresh by the phrase that is part of each of the seven – “Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches” (e.g. 3:13). This stresses the continuous activity of the Holy Spirit, and certainly is a call to attention (Leon Morris)! Listening to “what the Spirit is saying” is clearly something we must always be doing, especially given that it is so easy to just settle into a comfortable pattern. Sometimes we need to be listening well, so that we are corrected, disciplined, and saved from error. Other times, it will be far more subtle than this, where we are just missing the most pressing priorities.

Then there are the further two of the seven letters that carry a far more positive assessment of those particular church groups. There are warm commendations to be found in them; and we should find these encouraging where the ‘cap fits well’. Yet, these two letters are not just warm and fuzzy, for they still contain strong admonitions regarding how to stay on track and move steadily under the leading of the Holy Spirit. We have read together the sixth letter, and obviously one of the two positive ones, the one to the church in the important ancient city of Philadelphia. What can we see here of relevance to us?? The Book of Revelation was sent around as a whole, so all the churches specifically addressed in chapters 2-3 had the opportunity of checking out the messages to the others mentioned as well. Then all the churches down through the centuries have had the same opportunity.

The message, although coming through the human servant John, is voiced as if it is Jesus himself speaking to us. To anyone who would doubt the centrality of Jesus, look at how he is described in verse 7! Jesus is the one who has the key to God’s kingdom – he is the gatekeeper. Jesus opens a gate that no one else can shut. Jesus can also shut a gate that no one else can open. Thus if you shut Jesus out, where else is there to go to gain admittance. Having said this, we should quickly note, that these remarks are made to those inside the church … those you would have thought would never have needed to have had such things said to them. But then, how often does Jesus in effect get shut out of the church!?! How does the modern church deal with a variety of external pressures? The church in ancient Philadelphia firstly had to deal with the tension of being in an earthquake zone, having had their whole city destroyed earlier in the first century. And secondly, as we read in verse 9, they had to face off with a strong group with very opposing views, who were persecuting and seeking to divide this church community. How does one cope with this?

Let’s look at verse 9 specifically. In the first century of the church, there was those Jews who were ardently claiming and seeking to retain God’s covenant within their own exclusive grasp. They had hoped that Jesus’ crucifixion would have completely killed Jesus off. They were now being hostile toward and persecuting all those Jews and Gentiles who were continuing to follow Jesus late in the first century. They had failed to realise and/or accept that God’s plans had always embraced all nations, and that God had now advanced his covenant to encompass all the peoples of the world through Jesus … “the holy one”, “the true one”, the Messiah who had come from the line of David. Such Jews, while claiming to be the true keepers of God’s covenant were actually described here (and earlier at 2:9) as “the synagogue of Satan” (verse 9), because they actually in reality opposed God’s plans (opposing the inclusion of Samaritans and Gentiles, and refusing to accept Jesus as Messiah).

Others, as we know from Paul’s letters, although being attracted to Christianity, showed a preference for their traditional culture ahead of their allegiance to the ways of Jesus. A modern day equivalent of this could be the person who is zealously nationalistic and tries to squeeze ‘their’ Jesus into this mould. Perhaps over the centuries we have seen members of the church prefer the culture and norms of the world over the counter-cultural ways of Jesus. The quest for material possessions tends to provide a major diversion, and the seeking after power ultimately corrupts. May we never oppose God’s plans (and come under such a critique)!! Those who are part of God’s covenant prove this is so through fulfilling their side of the relationship, and this is by seeing that their actions conform to God’s ways and plans.

The members of the church in ancient Philadelphia would have to resist all the opposition and persecution that was thrown at them, and do what??? Verse 11 tells them to “hold fast to what you have”, which would be referring to their faith and their various active responses to God. But perhaps the way forward is more clearly seen in verse 8: keeping the word of Jesus and not denying Jesus’ name! This would in effect mean staying true to Jesus – following what he taught, emulating how he lived, pointing towards what he achieved. The Book of the ‘Acts of the Apostles’ (which many think should have been called the ‘Acts of the Holy Spirit’) shows the many ways the church was a good witness (and had major success) because of the way they followed Jesus through everyday life – in their sharing, and in their caring, and in their ability to adjust to the concept of a worldwide mission.

The church in Philadelphia had been able to do this too, even though they were described as having “but little power”, and were thus commended. Jesus understands and praises them for what they have been able to do, rather than admonish this church for what they have been unable to accomplish as yet (this thought gained from Larry Richards). The commendation comes because their focus has been right. Now I think we can relate to this … having “but little power”! But there is more than this in verse 8 (my new most favourite verse) … “I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut”. What does this refer to??? On a personal level … this is our entry into ‘eternal life’. On a larger level … this is our invitation into mission! This is a mission so open, that if it is done in the name of Jesus, it cannot be shut off!!

Because of their adherence to the name of Jesus, and because they endured patiently, the members of the church in ancient Philadelphia would be preserved through any trials that come (the “I will keep you” of verse 10). We might just sense that Jesus will also actively nullify some of the opposition. They will also be vindicated in the face of their opponents and oppressors (refer back to verse 9b). What a beautiful endorsement of faith is the phrase, “… and they will learn that I have loved you”. And such faith, that conquers all the comings and goings of life on earth, will be a monument to the name of God for all generations to come (v.12) – a ‘big result’ for a church with “but little power”! Such a church will be known as a ‘community of overcomers’ (Robert W. Wall).

So with all this hanging on it, we should certainly be listening to “what the Spirit is saying to the churches”. What the Spirit says are the words of Jesus to us. The Spirit will point toward the particular approaches that will be of particular relevance to the particular circumstances a particular church group will find themselves in. This will answer the question: how can we best and most effectively reflect and offer the person of Jesus to those around us and in our local community. So what about what might seem to us an interminable delay before growth occurs?!? What’s the hold-up? Well, we might rightly ask ourselves what we might still have to learn? But let me also quote helpful words from Malcolm McLeod who recruits and trains church planters:

You can pray in perfect harmony with [God’s] will but [God] is The Lord of timing. I know plenty of Church planters who stepped out in [God’s] Will only to be bewildered by a lack of souls saved and little growth. Each Sunday they would wait on God for His Word only to find precious few to hear what is clearly a Word in season. Why does God at times make His will so clear but seemingly withhold His miracles. The answer is simply ... timing.

Malcolm goes on to speak about what he has learned through personal experience:

The God of time said stop looking at your watch and start looking to Me. Stop asking "why" and start asking "what". I've stopped using the expression 11th hour and 59th minute because I clearly have no clue what time it is in heaven. Clearly a different time zone to anything I can ever understand. All I know is this. Do everything out of response to [God’s] will in your life. Obey Him with absolute resolve. Stop asking “why” and start asking Him “what”. What should I do, who should I speak with. Faith is a doing word. Look at the book of Acts. It is a book of ACTS! Planting Churches is exciting and at times down right frustrating ... BUT ... "In due time you will reap if you do not grow weary" (Galatians 6:9).