10250 North Freeway @ West Road
Houston, Texas 77037
Tel: (281) 447-8484
Pastor: Dr. Lester Hutson

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The Difference it Makes to God - Part II

It makes a great deal of difference to God which church you join because not every church brings honor and glory to Him. Paul told the Ephesian congregation that God only gets the glory through one of His churches (Ephesians 3:21). There are many churches today, but not every church teaches His Word accurately and, therefore, not every church is one of His churches.

God the Son expressly warns churches that if they do not hold to the truths of His word He would remove His presence from them, and they would no longer be one of His churches.  He dictated the book of the Revelation directly to John the Beloved and told him to deliver this book to the then existing 7 churches. Here's what John wrote in verses 10 and 11 of chapter 1, 'I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day (Sunday), and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,  Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.'

Following that introduction Christ dictated 7 letters, one each to the seven existing churches. Each church is encouraged and admonished as their need demanded, but after each letter was finished Christ warned everyone who read the letters 'He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches' (Revelation 2:7,11,17,29; 3:6,13,22).

Given that most of the New Testament was written directly to local churches, and that the last book of the Bible was dictated directly by the Son of God through John to local churches, it doesn't take a mental giant to figure out that God is very interested in churches. It is not just any church which is important to Him, but only His churches. Thus His warnings in Revelation to 'hear what the Spirit' says to the churches.

Now, if you will look closely at the letter Christ dictated to the Ephesian church (Revelation 2:1-7), you will notice His warning that He would remove Himself from that congregation if they did not repent of their ways. In verses 4 and 5 He says, 'Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.' The candlestick is representative of His presence. The removal of that candlestick is synonymous with His departure from that congregation.

If we are to pay heed to what the Spirit said to the Ephesian church then we must understand that this warning is applied to every church. If the Ephesian church could do something to cause Christ to disown them and remove His presence from them, then it is likewise possible for a church today to do the same. Since the warning was given to a congregation, it can be applied to all congregations.

It is not our job to go around determining which churches Christ has abandoned, but it is our job to know the Scriptures and affiliate ourselves with a church that does teach the truths of God's Word. The reason is obvious: as Christians we want to be where Christ is. Our whole purpose for joining and attending a church is to be close to Christ and worship the Father. Yet today there are many churches which call themselves Christian and claim to be one of His churches, but which do not teach the truths of His Word. According to Christ's letter to the Ephesian church, these churches today which do not teach His truths cannot be called one of His churches, and because of their heresy His presence is far from them.

However, just as Christ warns that He will remove His presence from a wayward church, He also admonishes any congregation that if they will turn to Him and let Him into their presence, He will bring His presence in to them. After concluding the final letter Christ states that 'Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me' (Revelation 3:20). Many mistakenly believe this passage to deal with salvation, but the context is local church status before the Lord and not an individual's position before Him. The message here is clear that Christ will bring His presence into any church which will open its door to Him: put Him at the Head and teach His truths without error and misinterpretation or misapplication.

SUMMARY

God is very much interested in you joining one of His churches, one in which His presence is cherished and where His truths are taught without error and where He receives all the honor and all the glory. He, through His Holy Spirit, wrote most of the New Testament directly to His churches. And His final warning in the Revelation is that every person is to pay close attention to what the 'Spirit saith unto the churches' (Revelation 2:7,11,17,29; 3:6,13,22).

NEXT LESSON

Are you aware that your rewards in Heaven depend on your service to God through one of His churches? Next lesson we will study the scriptures which prove this fact.

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"