The Rewards on the Road to the Celestial City (6)

 

Loved one in Christ Jesus, I believe you are growing in the strength of the Lord. The mercies and favour of God are increasing daily in our lives as we head towards the Celestial City. Kindly read the previous lessons for a more profound revelation.

In this lesson, I will take you through the prophecies Christ Jesus revealed to one of His beloved disciples (John, the son of Zebedee). It is my prayer the Holy Spirit speaks to you through this article because there are a lot of wisdom keys in this lesson. Let’s read from the living Word.

Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Revelation 2:1-7 KJV

The author of the book of revelation is John (the son of Zebedee). John walked and lived with Jesus Christ when He walked on earth as a man. Jesus Christ revealed some mysteries to John concerning the church, and it is our responsibility as Christian believers to learn from these revelations.

In verse one of Revelation, chapter two, Jesus Christ described Himself as the one holding the seven stars. The seven stars are a metaphor. The seven stars are the angels of the churches. The angels of the churches are symbols of the church leaders (elders, pastors, prophets, apostles and workers in the vineyard of Christ Jesus).

This means Jesus Christ is the supreme leader in every church led by the Holy Spirit. Every leader (apostle, elder, pastor, prophet, bishop and deacon) in the church (called out assembly) rests on the shoulders of Jesus Christ.

Without Jesus Christ, the church cannot stand the storms of life. The life (fire, power, presence, and glory) of the church can only survive in Jesus Christ. Outside Jesus Christ is darkness (misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness).

Jesus Christ left us to the Holy Spirit, so the Holy Spirit is the Director and Chief Executive Officer of the church. We can classify the church into different sections. When two or more born again, people meet in the name of our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ; the church has met (See Matthew 18:20).

The heart of every Christian believer is another type of Church. The seven candlesticks are a symbol of the church. Jesus Christ (Holy Spirit) always walks and lives in the church (gathering of the saints).

The church of Ephesus represents every church operating under the name and authority of Jesus Christ. The church of Ephesus also represents a Christian family that submits and follows the authority of God’s Word (Holy Bible). 

Initially, Apostle Paul, Timothy, Apollos, Pricilla, Aquila and Onesiphorus did a lot of ministerial works in the church of Ephesus (a city in Rome popularly known today as Turkey).

The revelation Jesus Christ gave to Apostle John concerning the church in Ephesus is a warning and encouragement to all churches across the world.

Jesus Christ revealed to John in the holy scriptures,

I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

Revelation 2:2-3 KJV

Jesus Christ observes our good works (evangelism, follow up, intercession and labour of love in the church). Child of God, do not be discouraged when people (leaders of the church, the brethren and the unbelievers) do not value your good works.

When people don’t show a sign of appreciation to your labour of love and the good works you have done in the name of Jesus Christ, it doesn’t mean Jesus Christ and His angels haven’t seen it.

The holy angels record all our good works and labour of love in the celestial City (See Malachi 3:16). Remember the encouraging words of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ, “I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience.” Jesus knows all the works you have done for the church, so don’t give up!

Jesus knows your patience. Sometimes, faith demands patience. The fact that we have faith does not mean we shouldn’t exercise patience. Patience builds our faith. Patience is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit (See Galatians 5:22-23). It is through the virtue of patience the Holy Spirit builds His fruits, gifts and power in our heart.

There will come a season in your Christian life; you may be tempted to give up. Don’t give the enemy the chance to break you. Know these truths.

• Discouragement is one of the greatest weapons of the enemy. 
• Discouragement invites the spirit of fear, hopelessness, corruption and suicide into your life.
• Discouragement destroys your faith and makes you walk in the path of the unbelievers. 
• Discouragement makes you walk in defeat and sorrow.
• Discouragement empowers your enemies to dominate and manipulate you.
• Discouragement limits the power, anointing, and hands of God upon your life.
• Discouragement limits your potentials and gifts.
• Discouragement opens the door for demons to attack you without mercy.
• Discouragement gives license to the spirit of death, hell and grave to attack you.
• Discouragement makes you concentrate on your weakness.
• Discouragement blinds your eyes of understanding and makes you walk in deception.
• Discouragement is a seed of the enemy, it makes you step outside the will of God.
• Discouragement is an invisible weapon of the enemy that stops you from pursuing the purpose God has created for you.

I hope these few truths will challenge you to dominate discouragement. Get my book, How to Break the Spirit of Inferiority for more wisdom keys. If you allow discouragement in your life, you will find it challenging to work in the house of God. Sometimes, we pass through the season of discouragement.

One thing I do in the season of discouragement is that I put my faith in the promises of God because God can never lie (See Numbers 23:19). If you don’t put your faith into action, you open your spirit to the arrow of discouragement. When the arrow of discouragement hits you, your faith dies. When your faith becomes weak, you will be unable to walk with the Holy Spirit (Meditate on Hebrews 11:6, 2 Timothy 1:7, Joshua 1:9).

Faith is an evidence of something you have not seen, but you believe it exists (Meditate on Hebrews chapter eleven in the holy scriptures or get my book, How to Unlock the Gate of Faith). The Word of God is our seed and evidence of faith.

We stand on the promises of the living Word (Holy Bible) because the Word has innumerable shreds of evidence to rely upon. I know sometimes it becomes a challenge when we don’t see some promises recorded in the living Word in our lives. It takes the seed of faith and patience to produce lasting results.

• Don’t give up because some brethren gave up.
• Don’t give up because the unbelievers and some “Christians” are mocking and discouraging you.
• Don’t give up because you don’t see the promises of God manifesting in your life.
• Don’t give up because no one recognizes your good works.
• Don’t give up because no one is rewarding your labour of love.
• Don’t give up because no one is supporting you in the vision God has given you.
• Don’t give up because you don’t have enough resources to accomplish the assignment ahead of you.
• Don’t give up because people are rejecting you for accepting Jesus Christ.
• Don’t give up because of the economic hardship.
• Don’t give up because you did not go to school or you don’t have a college certificate.
• Don’t give up because most of the church leaders do not recognize your good works.

Jesus Christ knows your good works and labour of love. The angels of God have recorded your good works in the Celestial City. The Holy Spirit is shaping you through the season of hardship so you can handle the souls.

The Holy Spirit is training you to be a strong leader in the vineyard. Without the seed of patience and faith, you may not go far in the ministry of God. Master the virtue of endurance because of the souls ahead of you.

Jesus Christ further states,

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Revelation 2:4-5 KJV

There are some things the Holy Spirit dislikes. Jesus is saying we have left our first love. Love is the most outstanding seed of the Holy Spirit. The nature of God Almighty is love. If you want to know a real Christian believer, test the person whether the individual exhibits the virtue of love (See John 13:35, 1 John 2:10, 1 John 3:10-14).

Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up.

It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful.

It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth.

It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends…

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NET Bible

I recommend you read my article, Types of love. Real love is the agape (divine or unconditional love). This is the love every Christian believer should exhibit. I sacrificed my time, energy and resources to write the article you are reading because I love you.

I could have done different things, but for the sake of Jesus Christ, the church and you, I stopped whatever I was doing to write this article. It is part of good works. Jesus Christ is love, and we (Christians) must express love.

I question the Spirit of a Christian believer who works to destroy others. Such a spirit is not from God. The Holy Spirit will never influence you to destroy the reputation of an innocent person. The Holy Spirit will never influence you to insult, slander, mock and destroy the good works of others.

Jesus Christ is warning us through the living Word that we (Christians) have left our first love. It is time we express love towards the church. It is time we encourage one another and stop the fights, accusations and evil. The Holy Spirit expects us (Christians) to support each other because we are one family connected in one Spirit (Holy Spirit). Read also... Connected in One Body

The blood of Jesus Christ has made us (Christians) one in the Spirit. Christians in the continent of Africa are not different from Christians in North America, South America, Asia, Europe, Antarctica and Australia. Though we are many, we are one body in Christ Jesus (See Romans 12:4-5, 1 Corinthians 12:12-21).

Don’t discriminate. Using culture, educational and other unscriptural factors to divide the body of Christ is evil. Let us stop racism in the body of Christ because, in Jesus Christ, there is neither Greek nor Gentile (Meditate on Galatians 3:26-28).

Apostle Peter tried to discriminate when God showed him a vision (See Acts chapter ten in the holy scriptures). Apostle Paul imitated the culture of the gentiles and Jews because he wanted to win some of them to Jesus Christ (See 1 Corinthians 9:19-23).

The foundation of Christianity is love because Jesus Christ is the complete expression of love. Jesus exhibited love. Jesus Christ died for us whiles we were sinners. Jesus did not wait for us to repent before He died for us (See Romans 5:8). Know these truths

• Jesus died willfully for our sins to enable us to reconcile to the Heavenly Father.
• Jesus died for us to enable us to dominate Satan and Sin.
• Jesus died for us so that we can have salvation (deliverance from sickness, poverty, failure and all forms of evil).
• Jesus died for us so that we can take our dominion mandate Satan took from Adam in the beginning.

Wicked people spat on Jesus. Evil men, women and children did great evil to Jesus because of the love He had for us (See Isaiah 53:1-12, Matthew 26 and 27 in the holy scriptures). Jesus Christ expects us (Christian believers) to show love by winning souls into His kingdom. 

Christ Jesus expects us to express love to the lost souls by interceding for them and teaching them the truth (Holy Bible). Meditate on John 21:15-17, Ezekiel 3:16-21.

The Holy Bible is the best-authorized book to transform the soul (mind, emotions, and intellect) of humankind and rekindle the spirit of man. Some books may inform and partially transform you, but it is only God’s Word (Holy Bible) that can completely transform you into the image and the likeness of God Almighty (Meditate on 1 Peter 2:2, Hebrews 4:12, 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

It is time you stop preaching love and show love because people are tired of your hypocrisy.  Love is what you do, not what you preach or teach. You can be the best preacher or teacher of love, but if you don’t express love, you are a hypocrite.

You will act like the Pharisees, Scribes and religious unbelievers. Jesus Christ is saying that aside from the good works, you have forgotten the first love.

Jesus Christ further states,

Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Revelation 2:5 KJV

Repent now. Repentance means a change of direction. You can feel sorry without changing your ways. That is not repentance. Repentance means you acknowledge that what you did is evil in the sight of God and the one you offended. You decide to amend according to the policies of the holy scriptures. That is true repentance.

Our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ continues,

But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Revelation 2:6 KJV

The last warning Jesus gives to us (Christian leaders) is to hate the deed of the Nicolaitans. What are the deeds of the Nicolaitans? Nicolaitans are people (it can be Christians) who follows the teachings of false prophets (like Balaam) and lives in unrighteousness.

Such people do not submit the righteousness of Jesus Christ (Meditate on Romans 1:18-32). They involve themselves in idolatry and eat food offered to demons. Such people use grace as a license to do great evil. 

Jesus Christ is warning us to dislike such behaviour and warn such people with the Word because it breaks the heart of God. The final remarks,

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Revelation 2:7 KJV

Jesus Christ concludes that if we walk in divine love, hate the deeds and doctrines of the modern Nicolaitans (false prophets and leaders), and continue in our good works despite the discouragement, He will open the door for us to enjoy the glories in the Celestial City.

Jesus will allow us to experience more of His love, presence and joy in the Celestial City if we stay on course. Glory to God!

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