+DEV+ Listen

Date: September 12, 2010 10:17 PM
Topic: +DEV+ Listen

Listen

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (Revelation 2:29).
Scripture Focus: Revelation 2:1-3:22

When the Lord God says something, it is crucial that we hear it. When He repeats something, it adds even more importance. Seven times in Revelation 2&3, God warns Christians to listen with the spiritual hearing He provides.

He spoke to seven literal churches, but they represent the problems all churches have faced throughout history-and still face today.

To each church, He gives a commendation for what they are doing right, a correction they need to make, and a consequence if they fail to change.

He tells them the benefit of trusting Him enough to listen and obey His Word. "To him who overcomes" God will give access to the tree of life, protection from the second death, hidden manna, a white stone with a new name written on it, authority over the nations, the morning star, acknowledgement of belonging to God, a crown, and the right to sit with Jesus on His throne. "Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God" (1 John 5:5).

Insight: Faith in Jesus makes it possible to overcome sin and death. Without faith, we cannot please God. He wants us to trust and obey.