5. Jesus Introduced to the Church in Sardis
Anglican Hyminal: A&M Revised 255
1. The Church's one foundation
is Jesus Christ her Lord;
she is his new creation,
by water and the word:
from heaven he came and sought her
to be his holy bride;
with his own blood he bought her,
and for her life he died.
2. Elect from every nation,
yet one o'er all the earth,
her charter of salvation,
one Lord, one faith, one birth;
one holy Name she blesses,
partakes one holy food,
and to one hope she presses,
with every grace endued
3. Though with a scornful wonder
men see her sore oppressed,
by schisms rent asunder,
by heresies distrest;
yet saints their watch are keeping,
their cry goes up, "How long?"
and soon the night of weeping
shall be the morn of song.
4. Mid toil and tribulation,
and tumult of her war
she waits the consummation
of peace for evermore;
till with the vision glorious
her longing eyes are blest,
and the great Church victorious
shall be the Church at rest.
5. Yet she on earth hath union
with God, the Three in one,
and mystic sweet communion
with those whose rest is won.
O happy ones and holy!
Lord, give us grace that we
like them, the meek and lowly,
on high may dwell with thee. Amen. Rev. S. J. STONE, 1868.
Jesus Christ here introduce Himself as the one who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars. According to Rev.1:20 the Mystery of the seven stars was interpreted to mean the angels of the seven churches, while the seven stars represents the seven churches.
The essence of this introduction is to teach us that Christ owns the Church, He bought her with His own blood and has called her a house of Prayers, He is equally the one who called and equip His messengers (ministers of the gospel) but today, many ministers has excused Christ from the church and began to teach they own doctrines, the church no longer recognised Christ as his owner but the men of God are now been celebrated instead. Entertainment, buying and selling is now the order of the day in our churches; we now left the substance and pursuing shadows.
In many churches today, the man of God will project himself as the miracle worker and takes the glory that belongs to God. They don't mind using their pictures to decorate everywhere and even make members take it home so as to acknowledge it as the one saving them. But look at what St. Paul thought us.
1 Corinthians 3:7 It's not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process but God, who makes things grow.
Brothers and Sisters, Christ cannot afford to share His glory with any man, there is nothing wrong in appreciating a man of God, but men of God let us learn to stand as ushers and let the people see Christ as the one working in His church. Let the people see Christ first; Good News Translation John 12:32 When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to me.” so it begins by first lifting Christ up then watch him present you.
Spiritual facts and life time lessons
The church is one foundation with Jesus Christ as her Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Bible KJV - Ephesians - Chapter 5:23
Therefore let us not despise and speak ill of a church, despite the fact that we belong to different denominations yet we are one body in Christ Jesus. Always be comfortable to worship God in every church of Christ you find yourself. Remember Christ did not give us a religion or denomination but a Kingdom and we all are hires of Christ through adoption.
Prayers
Faithful God! Heavens and earth are full of your Glory! Hosanna in the highest. We thank you for bringing to our knowledge once again that all power, glory, splendour, honour and majesty belongs to you alone. Almighty God, we pray for the ministers of your gospel, that you cloth us with your humility so as to be a sign post pointing the way to eternal salvation. Curse be any man who scatter the sheep of your flock and blessed be them who bring good tidings through your goodness. Hear us o Lord by the mercies of your Son Jesus Christ! Amen.
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