He Who Has an Ear, Let Him Hear

He Who Has an Ear, Let Him Hear

 

In the book of Revelation, we read of Jesus in all His glory, appearing to John in a vision and giving him seven messages to write down and give to seven of His churches.  The year was approximately 95 A.D. and these early Christian churches were in what is now modern Turkey.  We can read in our Bibles in Revelation chapters 2 and 3, just what Jesus said to each of these seven churches.  And near the end of each of these seven letters, Jesus always says these same words: “He who has an ear, let him hear.” 

 

Because Jesus is the Head of His Church (his followers) I believe these messages, warnings and comforts are for all of His Church, both then and now.  If Jesus asked His early churches (95A.D.) to hear if they had an ear, He is also asking us today to hear if we have an ear.  Like the early churches, He has so many lessons to teach us, if we are only open ourselves to hear.

 

 What does it mean to “have an ear”?  I think it means for us to be open to hear what Jesus is saying to us. The Holy Spirit does speak to us and nudge and teach us, if we are listening.  Sometimes we don’t want to hear what Jesus is telling us to do, so we stop being sensitive to His still small Voice.  We want to run our own lives and not make changes in order to follow Him.  We must be careful to always keep our hearts (ears) open to Jesus’ call. And be willing to answer that call. Let’s keep checking our “ears” and make sure they are always open to hear what Jesus is saying to us. 

 

Jesus speaks to us through His Word, the Bible.  His Word tells us that we should love and forgive, so we should love and forgive – even when we don’t want to.  We can ask Him to help us and He will give us the power to obey Him and love and forgive. And if Scripture warns us that certain actions are sinful, we should take that warning seriously and obey.  Trusting Him and obeying His commands helps keep our ears open.  Trust and obey for there’s no other way.   

 

In the last couple of blogs, we studied what Jesus said to the first four churches.  Today we will briefly go over what Jesus said to the last three churches.  Jesus speaks to the church in Sardis.  (Revelation 3:1-6) Jesus tells the Sardis church that they have a reputation for being alive, but the truth is that they are dead!  (Revelations 3:1-3) That there are a few church members (a remnant) who have not defiled themselves.  But what little that remains in the Sardis church is ready to die!

 

 We don’t know how and why this Sardis church died – what sins or unbelief killed this once vibrant church? -  but we have seen dead churches today!  Churches that once were alive with the Truth and love of Jesus and now these churches don’t believe in Jesus at all!  As long as we are on this earth we will need to watch and pray and hold on to the Truth.  

 

Jesus admonishes this dead church in Sardis  to wake up.  To strengthen what remains.  To remember what they had received and heard when they first accepted Christ as their Savior and to obey the Truth.  And to repent!  Jesus warns that if they don’t turn around and repent that He will come as a thief in the night to them.  Jesus promises that those few faithful Christians left in Sardis, the dead church, will walk with Him all dressed in white, if they continue holding fast to the Truth.   He promises that He will never blot out their names from the book of life. but will acknowledge their names before His Father and His angels.

 

The next church Jesus sends a message to is the church in Philadelphia. (Revelation 3:7-13)   Even though this church is only 40 or 50 miles from the church in Sardis, the church in Philadelphia is very much alive and well!  Where Jesus has only warnings for the church in Sardis, He has only praise for the church in Philadelphia!   

 

Jesus tells the church in Philadelphia that they have been faithful and have kept His Word and not denied His Name.  Because of this, Jesus is giving them an “Open Door”.  A door that no one can shut.   An open door to go through and preach the gospel where people’s hearts will be ready and open.  And maybe an open door for more, we don’t know all that Jesus’ open door means. 

 

Jesus also promised the Philadelphia church that because of their faithfulness, He will protect them and humble those who were persecuting them. And Jesus promised to come back from heaven for them and He will make them pillars in His temple in heaven and give them His new Name.

 

  Jesus is the true and holy God who holds the key to every door in this life and the next.  We can learn from Jesus’ letter to this faithful church that perhaps if we hold fast to the truth and stay faithful to Him that Jesus will open doors for us and provide protection and give us  citizenship in heaven. 

 

And lastly, Jesus writes to the church in Laodicea. (Revelation 3:14-22)   Jesus begins His letter by introducing Himself to the church in Laodicea as “the Amen, the faithful and true witness, and the ruler of God’s creation”.  Jesus exposes the church at Laodicea as lukewarm, wretched, poor, blind, and pitiable.  He calls them to come back, to repent, and to open the door to Him and let Him into their church and into their lives.  Jesus says: “Here I am.  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20) He calls them to stop being lukewarm and open the door and let Him come into their lives.  One can never be lukewarm when Jesus is in their life!

 

Are there seasons in our lives when we are lukewarm in our faith?  These words of Jesus’ saying that He is knocking at the door and asking us to let Him in, these words are also for His church on earth today. Jesus is also knocking at our heart’s door, and He is also asking us to let Him into our hearts and lives. Not to keep Him standing outside looking in.  Are we willing to pay the price to follow Jesus?  To let Him in?  Are we listening for Him?  Can we hear Him knocking at our door?  Will we open the door and let Him in?  “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says!”