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The grace and peace of our loving Lord Jesus Christ to all love the Lord with an undying love. Since last week we are reading the book of Revelation and also meditating upon that book. Now, the book of Revelation is a unique book because it is the last book in the order of the Old and the New Testament Bibles. It's the last book. And for many of us, it is a difficult book to read and interpret, mainly because of its literary genre. Its literary genre is what we call apocalyptical or uh revelatory or uh even prophetic. So all these three words I just use apocalypse, uh revelatory, or um prophetic, we don't use these words on a daily basis, and nor do we come across the uh literary genre called uh apocalyptic uh writings. So because of its uh unfamiliar nature to us, um we are confused as to how to read this book. Now, this book is full of symbolism. Okay, so and we don't know how to read uh a uh a writing, a literary genre that is mainly and full of symbolisms. And so so we get confused. So um, so as we read the book of Revelation together and meditate upon it, hopefully we get more used to how the other cultures, ancient cultures, wrote uh using symbolism. What's the reason behind it and what's the uh impact of uh reading uh books that are symbolic in its uh communications? So, yeah, uh bottom line, uh it is symbolism is pointing to Jesus Christ. So as I had mentioned earlier, the book of Revelation is about the Christ. It's a revelation of uh Jesus Christ, revelation by Christ, revelation about Jesus Christ. So all the symbolisms uh we we can only understand them uh if we understand Christ, if we meet the person of Christ, clearly we would have a better chance of understanding what this book is all about. So um with that in mind, let us take a look at the book of Revelation once again. Um, and today I'm going to give you an overview of the first three chapters of Revelation. Now, the opening three chapters of Revelation uh present a sweeping and sobering introduction to the risen Christ and his relationship with the church. In chapter one, John sees a vision of the glorified Christ walking among seven golden lampstands. Now, seven golden lampstands, uh symbolically representing the churches. And and Christ is holding seven stars, and they the seven stars represent the angels uh of the churches or the messengers to the churches. Now, this imagery is foundational, and that is Jesus is not far away from his people, that he walks amongst the church, he's in their midst, watching, speaking to, and above all, reigning over them as the king. The churches are his and his uh he in he tends to uh he tends to them with both tenderness and also at the same time very terrifying holiness. Now this sets the stage for uh chapters two and three. So one uh shows the Christ, two and three uh shows the churches, and the churches are to reflect who Christ is in chapter one. So each letter begins with a title drawn from the vision in chapter one, ends with a promise to the one who overcomes uh trials and temptations and tribulations and obstacles and even frailties. So the chapters two and three, the seven churches, um, the structure is consistent. Christ introduces himself in a unique way. Christ affirms where if it's where it's appropriate, uh he rebukes or warns as well, he gives a call to repent or to endure, and he offers a promise of reward. Now, however, the the content of each letter is deeply uh contextual to each church, revealing that Jesus is aware of the precise condition of each congregation. The entire church is addressed corporately together and representatively through these seven churches, now which stand for the whole body of Christ throughout the ages. In other words, these letters are for all churches at all times. So let's briefly summarize each of the seven churches. Ephesus. Ephesus had a sound doctrine but had forsaken its first love. So Jesus calls him to repent and return to relational devotion. Smyrna was faithful amidst suffering. Jesus offers no rebuke, only encouragement and a promise of the crown of life. Pergamum held fast to Christ's name but tolerated compromise and false teaching. Jesus warns them to repent. Thyatarah demonstrated love and service, but tolerated immorality and spiritual deception. And Christ promises judgment and calls for endurance. Sardis had a reputation for being alive but was spiritually dead. Jesus calls them to wake up and strengthen what remains. Philadelphia had little power but kept Christ's word. He opens a door for them and promises to keep them through trial. Laodicea, the final and most sobering letter, perhaps, receives no commendation, only rebuke for their lukewarmness, self-deception, and spiritual poverty. Yet even here Christ offers grace. Christ says, Behold, I stand at the door and knock. Now taken together, these letters reveal the full range of spiritual conditions in the church. Orthodoxy without love, suffering with faithfulness, compromise, moral, moral laxity, superficial reputation, humble perseverance, and lukewarm pride, Christ commands, convicts, and calls every church to remember who Christ is and to respond with renewed faithfulness to him. So these letters strip away all pretense and show what Christ truly values in his church. So it leads us to repent and renew. So let's ask the following three questions: Who is God and what is our guilt? And how does the grace show in this passage? Now, God is the Lord of the church. Jesus is not a distant figure or future judge, he's in the midst of us. He's the ever-present Lord who walks among his people. He knows the true spiritual condition of every congregation. And Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves, and because he loves us, he speaks to us. He's the one who holds the stars and walks among the lampstands, the one with eyes like fire, the one with a sharp two-edged sword, and the one who opens and no one can shut. And his authority is therefore absolute. His evaluation is perfect, and his promises are precious and enduring. What is our guilt? Our guilt is exposed in our complacency, compromise, and self-deception. Like Ephesus, we may cling to the right doctrine and at the same time lose love. Like Pergamum and Diatara, we may tolerate what Jesus hates. Like Sardis, we may have a reputation for life, but be spiritually asleep. And like Laodicea, we may think we are rich when we are in truth wretched and blind. So it is true, the closer we come to Christ, the more clearly we see our sin. The letters to the churches serve as mirrors, not just for congregations, but for each of us personally. Christ's rebukes are not cruel, they are merciful, calling us to wake up. So how does grace shine in this passage? Well, every letter is an act of grace. Every time that God engages in a conversation with us, that's an act of grace. Jesus does not abandon his people, he speaks to them, he offers repentance, promises, uh victory, and assures eternal reward. Even the harshest rebuke is followed by a hope-filled invitation. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who overcomes will eat from the tree of life, will not be hurt by the second death, will receive hidden manna, authority over nations, white garments, a permanent place in God's temple, and will sit with Christ on his throne. These promises are staggering, offered to stumble but repentant saints. So this morning, as we uh reflect upon this passage, let us ask the questions. Which of these seven churches do you mostly identify with, personally or as a church? What might it look like for you and your church to hear what the Spirit says to the churches? What areas can we improve? What areas can we uh say we must repent of? Which of Christ's promises speaks most deeply to your current spiritual need? So, as we uh meditate upon God's Word, the book of Revelation, the last book of the Old and the New Testaments, may we come to meet Christ Jesus, the risen Savior, as our personal Lord and Savior. May God's Spirit awaken us this day in Christ Jesus' name.