First Love - Part 2

                      (From Revelation 1 and 2)

By Iverna Tompkins
Transcribed by Jane Vaughn

There are lots of “suddenlies” in the Bible.  And we see them in the Book of Revelation when God says: “I will come suddenly and do this” or “at once” or “these things will happen soon!”  But God’s “soon…”?  :-)    “A thousand years is as a day!” (2Pet.3:8)   :-)    So, when I come back to Him and say, “You said through the Prophet that soon You were going to do this!” He says, “I am!”  And I have replied to that: “‘Soon’ is over!  It was “soon” when he said it!   :-)

We’ve all had that feeling and as time goes on without seeing the fulfillment, we then lose our faith in the Word, or in the Promise.  And we seem desperate: “Well, I tell you I’ve tried to hang on to that.  I’ve just done everything I could to hang on to that promise.”  Wait.  Hold on.  What does that mean?  Just what does that mean: “I’m going to hang on to a promise”?  Are you out on a limb somewhere?  :-)  (Sometimes we feel like we are! :-))

But that’s a trite colloquialism we think means something.  It doesn’t mean anything!  If God has promised something – it is going to happen!  If the fulfillment has a condition attached to the promise and you haven’t done that – then don’t claim the promise!  You have no right of expectation for the fulfillment if you haven’t done your part!  It’s like putting a letter in the mailbox with no address – just isn’t going to get there!

So, the Lord says, “If you will, I will.”  But if you don’t will – He ain’t gonna! :-)   So maybe we need to look back through a few things and see what it is we haven’t done – satisfy that condition – and then “claim the promise,” as we say.

Here we are, then, the lights of Revelation 1 and 2 – and we are the Church (or “churches”).   Seven is the perfect number.  Simply, it carries the meaning: “completed” or “there’s no more needed” or “it’s fulfilled.”  It means “perfection” – but not flawlessness.  That’s the number 7 as used in Scripture.  Like so many of the other numbers it has various applications for its meaning.  Here, seven churches.  Seven specific churches that were geographically there in existence – over which John maintained apostleship.  Smile, because John is presently sitting out there alone on an Island.  That’s for you who have a problem with the Apostle: “Well, they’re not doing for us everything they should do.”  Rejoice!   :-)

Seven literal churches, yes.  But they’re also seven representative churches – or I’ll just tear the pages out of my Book.   :-)    I’m not interested in them.   Hello.  I need to know what significance this Scripture holds for me – for us – today.  Oh, you legalists – I can just see your shocked little faces: “You would tear a Book out of the Bible?” :-)   But you see the point of that is – there’s just a lack of responding personally if I don’t think the arrow is mine!  Might as well not have the pages in the Bible if I’m not going to respond appropriately! 

So, when I see these churches in Revelation, I like to see them as representative of churches everywhere.  Not 1–2–3–4–5–6–7 churches – but His Church spoken to in seven different ways.  Or, if you will, seven particular seasons of time in which these churches operate or exist. This particular one, the first addressed, Ephesus – if I gave it a title I would call it the Apostolic Church. 

Today, we are just entering a time, an era, a season – whatever your doctrine says that’s what I mean :-)  – but I want you to relate to this.   We have come into a fresh awareness of the Apostolic office.  We couldn’t even spell the word ten years ago.   :-)  Everything back then was Prophetic and before that it was Teacher.  And before that it was Preacher.  And before that it was Evangelist.  That was the emphasis of those times.  I can walk you through the history – from Pentecost through the Charismatic Move and on through whatever this is that’s unnamed for now :-)  – The Messy Move! :-)   But it will not remain a mess!  He’s getting us ready – for His next move!

Now, at this particular time of awareness, why has the emphasis come on the Apostle?  That’s easy – because of the mess! :-)  Everyone out there is doing their own thing – started their own everything – and mostly were unqualified to do it.  They’ve started their own because of being afraid of and/or having been hurt by denominations.  Their attitude has become: “I’ll never come under that flag.”  Or “I’ll never come under this flag.”  And that’s fine – but – is there a flag you’re under? :-)  Is there someone to whom you answer?  Is there someone that has the prayer concern over your life?  Is there anyone who is strong enough to direct you?  Oh God forbid! – we don’t want anyone directing us!   :-) 

But this situation is going to change.  I promise you, it is in the process.  It takes twelve miles to turn a huge ship – are you with me?  It takes twelve miles for them to get a complete turn around.  And that takes some time – it doesn’t happen in an instant.  God has spoken to the ship: “Turn.”  I don’t know what mile we’re on; I leave that to the Prophets.  But I can feel the turn.  Don’t you? 

Do you know why I feel it?  Because I can’t walk steady like I used to do.  It’s hard when you’re on shipboard and they start to turn.  You just want to shout: “Straighten it up!  Let’s go back to what we used to be!  I could walk straight then.  At least I knew what I believed!” :-)  “Everything was clearer” – as we say, “back then.”  It was more definitive.  It was absolutely crystal clear – because – there wasn’t anything! :-)  You’d just get the ticket – that’s the Blood of Jesus Christ.  Get the ticket, get on the boat   :-)  – dunk on the way in   :-)   – that’s the Baptism  :-)  –  and now you’re headed for . . . the Kingdom of God – wherever it is!   :-)    That's how it used to be.   An even keel.

Don’t you remember those good old days?  (It was just yesterday! :-))  And everything was crystal clear and uncomplicated – and then?  Every time God gets involved – He complicates things!  :-)  He complicates life.  He complicates homes.  He complicates churches…  because – He’s uncovering some things – which is revelation – and that often feels complicating to us.

We call the content of this Book “Epistles” (cf.2:1, 8, 12, 18, 3:1, 7, 14: “Write…” ) but in fact, they’re really not so much a message from an absent person as they are a message directly from Heaven to His emissary, His spokesperson John, whom He has interrupted on the Sabbath – to go to the pastors with His message.  Messages to those who are “in charge.” (“the angel of the church in…”)              In charge of what?                    [I want to pause for you to think about that!]                     In charge of making disciples!

We don’t do that, Church – “Make disciples!”    We just preach!    We bring in the best that we know – we even bring in – Teachers – and we bring in Prophets.    For the most part, today we have the 5-fold ministry working.  Thank God for that!  Not together, mind you, as they will one day, but they’re working!  :-)   Well, hey!  I have faith for a lot of things!   :-)

We bring them in and we expect them, in their allotted time, to make disciples of our people.  Think about that……..  It’s impossible!  All we traveling ministers can do is promise the merchandise – show it on the shelf – and hopefully, prove it from the Word and demonstrate it from our lives.  But we will never make it happen!  We cannot make disciples of your people!  It’s the Pastors who do that.  Do you understand?

And Pastors, you cannot relegate that task to anyone else!  It’s your job – “Go and make disciples” (Mt.28:19).  It’s an Apostolic call, but has relevance to the Pastor.   You have them, day in and day out.  You have them week in and week out.  The Bible says, “Know your flocks and herds” (Pr.27:23).  Look at them – are you preaching to a mass or a mess?  (Good question! :-))

So – when the Lord gets ready to change something, He comes on the scene with His scrutiny.  (You need to have a silent “Amen” to that in your heart!)  And He’s described in Revelation chapter one as having eyes like flames of fire (1:14).  Oh, doesn’t that sound holy?  You see, I could preach this from a completely different angle and have you shouting “hallelujahs!” :-)  “Oh! I tell you!  Here He is – with hair like wool…(1:14)” (You do know that is the picture of the judgment that’s about to come … :-) )  “...with eyes as flames of fire…”

But the truth is, God is looking at the churches in these passages.  He is looking…  Listen – just to have Him look with those eyes means He’s going to burn away everything that’s burnable.  If it’s straw?    ::phiist::    It’s going up!  Wood?  Stubble?  I hear you say, “Well, I know a lot of churches that are just like that – straw – wood – hay – stubble.”  Okay – He’s not lookin’ there! :-)  They’re praying for Him to come – but like Malachi did (chap.3), I could say to them, “Do you really want Him?  Are you sure?” :-)  “You’re doing fine without Him.  No changes commanded – demanded – even requested.  Just do what…”  You know what I’m saying.  God will come with His judgment as well as His love and mercy.

“Well, we’ve been praying…” – “we” being believers all over the world.  And I don’t think I’ve ever known of a time when this nation has been praying more for Revival!  I mean – really praying!  In city after city after city, wherever you go, believers are meeting together – they’re praying – beseeching God – begging God – “Oh, come Lord! Come to our city!”  We’ve had prophetic words spoken over the metropolitan area of Phoenix – tremendous promises! – and I want them to come to pass!  I claim them along with you!  “Yes, Lord!” is my response to all that.  “But, God, You have to look at us!”

“Let Him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth,” Song of Solomon says (1:2).  If you’re going to be kissed – on the mouth – by the Mouth – you have to look at Him, face to face.  We cannot turn our backs and still ask Him.  He can’t (won’t) hear that way!

So, He’s coming to scrutinize His Church.  If you are right with God and you’re a pastor, doing what you can with your people – then you will welcome divine scrutiny.  “All thy promises are thoroughly tested,” the Scripture says, “and thy servant loveth them.” (Ps.119:140; 1Cor.1:20). 

This divine scrutiny is not a fearful kind of thing, but it is something we need to teach our people to embrace.  They need to know – that He is in this place.  I love to be in a place where the Spirit of God is!  It’s very difficult for me to praise and worship – oh, forget worship – just even to praise – when He isn’t there!  What’s the point?

I know when He is there – I can sense His Presence.  And we have to claim the promise: “Lord, You said where 2 or 3 are gathered in Your name, You’re there in the midst of them”(Mt.18:20).

God says, “John, I want you to go to the Pastors – and I want you particularly to go to the church at Ephesus…” (which is the only letter, or message, we’re going to look at for now).  “I want you to go to the church at Ephesus and tell them what I see about them that I do approve.”  Oh, don’t you want to hear that from God?  I do!  Yes, I surely do!  He continues in Revelation 2:2, “I see, Church, what you have done.  I see your hard, hard work” (The Message).  That’s what that word speaks of – their works – “your hard, hard work.” 

Some of you have it better (easier) than others – in pastoring.  You have moved into a place or position where someone else sowed and planted, and you just stepped into that prepared field.  So, now you’re just watering and it’s wonderfully comfortable.  I bless you in that place.  That’s just great!   I’d give a little warning to you, however.   Don’t grow.   :-)  You won’t know what to do with it.  :-) 

Others of you have struggled and been striving – trying to make a thing happen and you’ve done everything you know to do (and a lot of things you didn’t know how to do  :-)).  But it’s just not lifting off the ground – whether it’s a ministry or a pastorate or even a traveling thing – it’s just not…   But the Lord is here, now, trying to encourage you today!  Listen to Him: “I’m looking at you.”  God is smiling His approval.  “I’m looking at you and I see your hard, hard work.  You’re not just sitting down.  You’re not just reclining on the prayer lounge.”  Selah.  “But you’re putting some legs to your prayers and some action to your hands.  You’re moving.  I see that.  I see,” He says, “your refusal to quit” (2:2 The Message).

Now you can call it anything you want.  I just plainly think it’s tenacity – sanctified tenacity.  It’s not just stubbornness, like: “I’m here and they’re not going to be able to get me out!” :-)  But with – listen – with a call of God – that is genuine – there is a divine tenacity that hits our spirits.  It doesn’t matter what the “votes” are from then on.  We just are this – whatever His call is – and we’re sticking to our conviction.  I didn’t call myself to the ministry – trust me! :-)  Nor would I again! :-)  But I will die in it.   :-)   Because “woe is me” if not (1Cor.9:16).   Can you understand that?  Not everyone can grasp that kind of tenacious spirit.  But you know how it can be sometimes.   They  (others)  think they have a voice in the call: “We voted on them (out!) and they won’t go.  We’ve even withheld our tithe and they still won’t go.”

But the Lord says, “I’m looking at you!  I see you.  It doesn’t matter what is happening right now.  I’m here and I’m burning away – with My look – everything burnable.  You’re going to come forth with a burnt, bronzed body – like your Lord!” (Rev.1:15) :-)    He says, “I see that you can’t…”  Let’s read this from The Message – only he would dare to use this vocabulary!  “I know you can’t stomach evil!”  God says, “I see that!  That’s good!”

Now Church, each one of these points would be a sermon in itself if it was handled properly, and you know that.  But we have stomached evil.  To our shame.  We have become so accustomed to it because we have lived with it for so long.  You get in a group outside of your church circles and very often you can’t tell who the believers are – and who are not.   And I’m not talking about tracts hanging out of your pocket.  I’m talking about your life – our lives – being of such obvious countenance that people ask us why or how?  Peter wrote it this way: “Sanctify the Lord God in your heart and be ready always to give an answer to everyone that asketh you a reason of the hope!” (1Pet.3:15).

Dear Lord, if our faces (our countenance) are the message of hope!  Help us!  What can be read in our faces?  Or deciphered through tone of voice or other postures or facial expressions?  Tell me you haven’t seen “rolled eyes” accompany statements like this: “Did you hear the latest about our President?” :-)  Grimaces and smirks and eyes communicate so much more than our words alone.  We’re to have hope and be able to give people the “reason of our HOPE!”

                                                                                          Go to Part 3