The Church Jesus Loves
Living Ready in Unsteady Times
The Blessing of Revelation
“God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near.”—Revelation 1:3 (NLT)
Living ready begins with listening to Jesus’ words and obeying them.
The Priesthood of Believers
“He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.”—Revelation 1:6 (NLT)
“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.”—1 Peter 2:9 (NLT)
The Church Jesus loves is not just a gathering, but a royal priesthood — faithful, holy, interceding, blessing, guarding, teaching, and carrying His presence.
Value in the Right Hands
“This is the meaning of the mystery of the seven stars you saw in my right hand and the seven gold lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”—Revelation 1:20 (NLT)
The lampstands had no value apart from the fire burning on them. The same is true for the Church — its value is not in the structure, but in whose hands it rests.
The Church in the hands of Jesus is priceless. Step out of His hands, step out of holiness, and we’re just a building and a program.
The Vision of Jesus Among His Church
“When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest.”—Revelation 1:12–13 (NLT)
Jesus is in the midst of His Church.
“His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire. His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance.”—Revelation 1:14–16 (NLT)
His word cuts through compromise.
“This is the meaning of the mystery of the seven stars you saw in my right hand and the seven gold lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”—Revelation 1:20 (NLT)
The Church is His — valued, secure, but called to holiness.
Lessons from the Seven Churches
Each church was commended or corrected in terms of priestly duty.
Ephesus
“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.”—Revelation 2:4–5 (NLT)
They lost their first love. When love fades, obedience becomes empty.
Smyrna
“Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.”—Revelation 2:10 (NLT)
They endured suffering faithfully, interceding with their very lives.
Pergamum
“But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam… Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”—Revelation 2:14–16 (NLT)
They compromised truth instead of guarding holiness.
Thyatira
“But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman—that Jezebel…—to lead my servants astray. She teaches them to commit sexual sin and to eat food offered to idols.”—Revelation 2:20 (NLT)
They tolerated sin, allowing impurity to spread.
Sardis
“I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead…”—Revelation 3:1–3 (NLT)
They let the fire die, living on reputation without reality.
Philadelphia
“I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me. … Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing…”—Revelation 3:8,10 (NLT)
They carried God’s presence faithfully, even with little strength.
Laodicea
“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold… You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked…”—Revelation 3:15–18 (NLT)
They became lukewarm and self-sufficient, forgetting their dependence on Christ.
The Bride and the Promise
“Christ loved the church… He gave up his life to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.”—Ephesians 5:25–27 (NLT)
His love makes the Church radiant.
“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together… but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”—Hebrews 10:23–25 (NLT)
A ready Church is a gathered and encouraged Church.
“Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.”—Matthew 16:18 (NLT)
His promise is unshakable.
Faith Statements
- We will listen to His words and obey, for blessing follows obedience.
- We are His priests — called to holiness, not excuses.
- Our value is not in ourselves, but in the hands of Jesus.
- We will not lose first love, but serve with sacrificial devotion.
- We will keep the fire burning and strengthen what remains.
- We will intercede faithfully, even at personal cost.
- We will guard holiness, proclaim blessing, teach truth, and carry His presence.
“We will not budge — we are the Church Jesus loves, living ready, faithful, holy, and steadfast in truth.”
We live in a day where consumerism replaces contentment, distraction drowns devotion, disillusionment eclipses hope, and morality is sold cheap. But holiness is not outdated — it’s uncompromising. Holiness is not legalism — it’s loyalty. Holiness is not weakness — it’s courage to stand when culture bows.
We are the priests of this age. We keep the fire burning, guard the altar of truth, and refuse to let false narratives or fear silence love. Yes, we may be attacked. Yes, ridiculed. Yes, undermined. But we will not budge.
Because the Church Jesus loves is the Church that lives ready — faithful, holy, and steadfast in truth.
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