This Is Your Season Ministries: Week 2: We Must Be Overcomers

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes…

In chapters 2 & 3 of Revelation, we find messages given to seven churches in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey). These messages are full of instructions in how to partner with Jesus in his worldwide preparation of the church for His 2^nd coming. Jesus is showing us the kind of church that He is building and what His agenda is. We have built our own churches our way for too long, now is the time to do it God’s way!

This preparation will take a spiritual maturity, faith, and level of obedience the church today does not walk in. These messages define the truths and focus necessary to equip the church to walk in Love for Jesus. Each church was challenged politically, economically and spiritually, just as we are. Jesus stressed faithfulness as a very important value to Him. Our love is expressed as we obey, heed His warnings, and believe His promises, especially His eternal rewards to overcomers.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. In these end times, there is a deeper truth that we must pursue and it will take the supernatural help of the Holy Spirit to understand it. It will also take a focused determination to comprehend the truths being referred to.

In each of the messages to the seven churches, we find:

exhortation: what they must do or continue to do

rebukes for compromise: what they must not do. God is sending His refining fire to purge these things out of our lives.

promises to the overcomers: eternal rewards. These are incentives for diligent faithfulness, to helpbelievers be equipped to stand firm in the pressure to come!

· Jesus knew what we would need to be sufficiently motivated during the release of the glory and crisis in His end time plan. They equip us to persevere by being anchored in eternity with confidence. When suffering is seen in God’s light, it loses its power to intimidate.

· Heavenly rewards are given to believers according to their works, or according to their response of gratitude to Jesus for giving us so great a salvation.

·Most of these rewards will be received by all believers in an introductory way, but

some will receive a greater measure of these blessings. Only overcomers receive the

fullest measure of these rewards. Our obedience is deeply connected to our rewards.

· descriptions of Jesus’ majesty

Even though these messages were to specific churches 2000 years ago, they still apply to the church today, to all believers who are awaiting Christ’s return. In these messages we are praised for the things we are doing right, rebuked for our compromises, encouraged in the things we should be doing, and promised rewards for overcoming.

As you study these churches I want you to ask the Holy Spirit to answer these questions:

· Where am I? Which church resembles my life?

· Which church most resembles the church I attend?

1. Please read Revelation 2:1 – 3: 22, noting the repeated phrases.

I know your ... He is encouraging them to continue in these things. I have a few things against you… He is sending forth fire to purify their hearts. To him who overcomes, I will give… He is giving promises to give us hope. The One who ... He is giving us a description of Jesus to strengthen us for our tasks.