Letter Writing

668.  "Letter Writing"                  January 7, 2013
Revelation 1-Part 3
John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne.
Rev. 1:4 KJV


LET IT GLOW

How often do you write letters? With our modern technology, I either Facebook or email to people. Sometimes I call them, but rarely do I write a letter anymore. (To think, letter writing and telephoning were the main ways to communicate with people who lived away when I was a child.)
I can't imagine writing seven letters to seven churches, of which six were rebukes now days.

I noticed four things in this key verse that John says.
First, the seven churches to whom the letters were addressed existed in Asia Minor (modern Turkey). Asia Minor had seven postal districts, whose centers were seven key cities which served as central points of information. Apparently they were singled out because John had ministered in them. It is to the churches in those cities that John writes-Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea. (MacArthur)

These churches are chosen because of the specific characteristics in them. (Falwell)

Second, John is greeting those churches in Asia Minor with grace and peace. We refer to the grace of God as unmerited, unearned, and undeserved favor. It is His grace through faith that saves us
(Eph. 2:8-9). It is the gift of God. There is nothing that we have done, will do, or even promise to do that can earn salvation. It is all the work that Jesus Christ did on the cross. Precious grace is a relationship that offers us true peace that overcomes any trial and tribulations the world can bring. (Swindoll)

There can be no true peace where there is not true grace; and, where grace goes before, peace will follow. (Matthew Henry)

Third, this present peace and the future fulfillment of our salvation come from the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Trinity). John called the Father the On "who is and who was and who is to come." In Exodus 3:14, I AM indicates God's complete transcendence over all history-past, present, and future. God is just as much in control of our unknown future and unnerving present as He is of our unpleasant past. (Swindoll)

God's eternal presence is not limited by time. He has always been present and will come in the future.
(MacArthur)

Jehovah is eternal, unchangeable, the same to the Old Testament church which was, and to the New Testament church which is, and who will be the same to the church triumphant which is to come. (Matthew Henry)

Don't we all desire grace and peace from the One who is, was, and is to come?


LET IT GROW

Fourth and last, John is sending grace and peace from the seven spirits which are before God's throne.
John isn't describing seven distinct Holy Spirits; there's only one Holy Spirit (1Cor. 12:13, Eph. 4:4). In a vision of the heavenly throne room described in Revelation 4, John saw the Holy Spirit symbolically represented by "seven lamps of fire burning before the throne" (verse 5). Seven qualities of the Holy Spirit mentioned in Isaiah 11:2-3 are the Spirit:

1. of the Lord,
2. of wisdom,
3. of understanding,
4. of counsel,
5. of strength,
6. of knowledge,
7. of the fear of the Lord.

John is describing the infinite perfect Spirit of God, in whom there is a diversity of gifts and operations. He is before the throne; for, as God made, so he governs, all things by his Spirit. (Matthew Henry)

Do I seek wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge, and fear of the Lord from the Holy Spirit of God? Ask and ye shall receive.

LET IT GO

Leave behind my own wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge, and fear of the Lord, ask, and receive those from the Holy Spirit.

Seek the Lord for those things in my life.