God has taken extraordinary steps to insure that we know Him in the power of His resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:5-8 gives a short list of over 500 people that bore witness to the fact that Jesus arose from the dead. After Jesus arose from the dead, He showed Himself alive to believers with many infallible proofs, being seen forty days, and He spoke of the kingdom of God. He met with believers several times and made a clear statement of intent that one day He would return in clouds of glory. Just before ascending back to the Father, Jesus told those who were assembled together that He would ask the Father to send the Holy Spirit upon believers. The Holy Spirit would do a dramatic work in believer’s lives and would give them power and make them witnesses of Him in all the earth.
Shortly after Jesus returned to the Father, John was on the island called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 1:1-3 NKJV The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Revelation 1:10-18 NKJV I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches… Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
You need to know that Jesus Christ walks in the midst of His Church.
John said, “I saw Him.” He saw Jesus in His power and great glory. He observed the Lord’s care and concern over His church. John was shaken and overwhelmed by the feeling of the strength of His hand and countenance. He heard the intensity and power of His voice.
Do you ever feel that you are walking alone? Have you felt that you are unknown, inconspicuous, and isolated? You are not alone. You may not feel that Christ is with you.You feel that way because of your sin or the condition of situations that you are involved in. You feel that way because you are facing so many trials, tests, and troubles. You feel that God is not aware of what is happening and that you are bearing your burdens and cares and you feel isolated and alone. You may even feel that the events of your life are insignificant and hidden.You need to know that the Lord is with you.
In Revelation, John saw Christ in the midst of the Church. John saw Jesus Christ walking in the midst of SEVEN candlesticks, and He was holding seven stars in His hand. John asked, “Lord, What is all of this that I am seeing?” “What does it mean?” Then Jesus spoke a word to the Church.
Are you prepared to hear what Jesus has to say to you? Jesus said: “I am walking in the midst of the Church and have the angels of the church in my hand.”
What is the significance of this? What is the Lord saying to you today? He repeats the meaning of this to each of the seven churches. He says: “I am in your midst and I know everything about you.”
The Lord Jesus Christ is in His Church. He knows everything about the church. You can take this awesome message very personally today.
- Christ knows all about your emotional state.
- He knows all about your tribulations.
- He knows all about your devotional life.
- He knows all about your morality and integrity.
- He knows every minute and secret activity.
- He knows your tears and prayers.
Jesus wanted to make this message clear to the entire church. Listen to the specific word that He spoke to the seven churches.
- He knows the strengths and weaknesses of every church.
- He knows all of their trials.
- He understands all of their joys.
- He knows all of their pains.
- He is familiar with their friends.
- He has been walking in the midst of the Church.
- He knows their doctrine and beliefs.
- He knows where they have been sleeping.
What does that mean? The Lord has been going with you. He is in your house and on the job with you. He is in your car and at your table. You cannot escape him.
Have you ever gone steady with anyone? Do you know what that implies? Young people start a relationship by going steady. They find someone they really like and decide they are the ONE they will spend their time with.
Jesus is saying: “You are mine and I am yours!” You will have no other for I have claimed you. Christ is telling the Church, “I am in the midst of you.” I am walking where you walk. I know all of your conversations. I am observing your moment-by-moment activity. This is your comfort when you are doing right.
Are you glad that the Lord knows all about you?
You need to know that the Lord is present in the good times and the bad times. He knows your good days and when sin is in your heart. The Lord knows everything that is going on in your life. He can give the details that others only guess.
You can take comfort in this when you are going through the fiery trials. He is with you when the rivers overflow and when fiery trials are hurled at you. He knows the spiritual darkness that assaults. He knows when principalities and powers of evil come against you.
Because He knows, He is able to minister to you.
- He can touch you where you hurt and heal your broken heart.
- He can deliver your broken and bruised soul.
- He can break the chains of your bondage.
- He knows what’s going on in your life.
- He wants you to know that He has the power to fix it for you.
Listen to His declaration.
Revelation 1:17-18 NKJV He said, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of hell.”
What does this mean to your situation? He who has conquered hell and death is on your side and is in your midst. He who is alive for evermore is in your midst. He who is the First and the Last is in your midst.
Think about what this means for your present situation. The Lord is on a constant vigil over His church and you can trust and rely on Him with whatever you face. He is ready to give you strong encouragement to live the life and not be afraid. He has already conquered your greatest adversaries and is able to strengthen you for the greatest battles you will ever face.
Since He knows His church so well, what is the Lord saying to us? Is He saying: “Straighten up your act?” “I know you can do better.” Have you lost the fervency of your first love and faith? Is He saying: “Get back to the altar?” “You can find the help you need if you will come to Me in prayer.” Is He saying: “You are doing a good job in the midst of a wicked world?” “Stay strong and don’t give up.”
The message is the same regardless of what He sees in the church!
The Lord keeps telling His church repent and come back to Me with a whole heart. WHY is He saying that? He has been walking in the midst of the Church. He has been observing you 24 hours day. He knows you deeply and personally. He knows your heart and mind, your thoughts and words. He knows your whole life. He knows your temperament. He knows you.
Now you have a choice to make. Will you continue doing what you have been doing without change? Will you return to Him with a whole heart? Will you make excuses for your life and struggles? Will you be humbled by His care and serve the Lord with fire in your love for Him?
Every part of this really gets down to one thing, the Lord wants to show you more of His grace and power.
Jesus Christ wants more of your life. There are consequences to our response to Him. God has set some precepts, principles, laws in place.
He says, “You do this thing and this will be the result.”You repent and I will be there to help you. Continue going away from Him and you will lose what you have. Then, He reinforces this by letting us know that He is there and will know what course of action we will take. We cannot afford to miss this important fact in our lives.
Consider what He wants to give you.
Revelation 2:17 NKJV “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’
This refers to the blessing of enjoying heaven’s richness. The Lord wants to show you more of His glory and power. He has prepared a place for you so that you will eat of the hidden manna in heaven. This new name is given to the redeemed of the Lord.
Revelation 2:23 NKJV…I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.
Revelation 2:26 NKJV And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations.
We cannot afford to miss this fact. Not only does the Lord walk among us, He knows our hearts and minds. Since we have given ourselves over to know Him more, the Lord has promise that we will be rewarded. We shall rule and reign with Christ.
Revelation 3:4-5 NKJV You… who have not defiled their garments shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
Think about this. The Lord Jesus Christ who is holy is saying we are worthy to walk with Him. Can you grasp the depth of what the Lord is saying? He is going to take away all of the stain and shame of our past and clothe us in His righteousness. Those white garments are a testimony of what the Lord has done in us. He is bringing us into a place of honor before the Father.
Revelation 3:10 NKJV Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
When we determine within ourselves to walk with Jesus and keep His words, the Lord promises to keep us from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world. This is good news both now and in the future. He has the power to keep you.
Revelation 3:21 NKJV To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Think about the pure delight of this. We shall sit with Him on His throne. There are eternal benefits for each of us when Jesus comes into our lives and we walk with Him in victory.
He has laid this in our hands.
Christ is here right now to help you. He who walks in the midst of the Church has spoken to you. All He wants from you is an undivided heart and hunger for more and more of Him. He is disposed to bring you into the richness of His inheritance. He is able to take you into the glories that are reserved for all of the saints.
